UFC welterweight contender Rory MacDonald may very well have punched a ticket for a title shot with a nasty TKO finish over Tarec Saffiedine at UFC Fight Night 54 this weekend.

“Ares” headlined the card in front of his Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada crowd and certainly did not disappoint against the last reigning Strikeforce champion.

MacDonald, 25, controlled the pace of the bout by using his length to manipulate the striking distance and checking the majority of “The Sponge’s” devastating leg kicks.

Early in the third frame, after MacDonald had begun to land at will in the previous round, the Tristar Gym standout stunned Saffiedine with a right hook and dropped him to the canvas with a picturesque left uppercut.

While Saffiedine tried to regain his senses with a desperation takedown, MacDonald would not be denied, quickly taking waist control and landing hard punches before referee Herb Dean waived off the contest.

The matchup marked the first time Saffiedine was ever finished, also snapping a five-fight win streak for the well-rounded Belgium competitor.

MacDonald, who entered the bout as the No. 2 welterweight in the world according to the UFC’s official rankings, has now made it three straight wins in 2014.

He defeated top competition in Demian Maia, Tyron Woodley and now Saffiedine.

Dating back to April 2011, MacDonald has won eight of his last nine fights, with his only setback being a close split decision loss to former/upcoming title challenger Robbie Lawler at UFC 167 in November.

Only Lawler and champion Johny Hendricks are currently ranked ahead of MacDonald, with Hendricks-Lawler II headlining UFC 182 on December 6.

Has MacDonald established himself as the next rightful title challenger at 170 pounds or is he still a win or two away from his first crack at championship gold?