2021 PFL 5 predictions: Is anyone taking Gleison Tibau over heavy favorite Rory MacDonald?
| MacDonald
vs. Tibau |
Aleksakhin
vs. Cooper III |
Sordi
vs. Spohn |
Camozzi
vs. Ferreira |
|
| Nolan King
@mma_kings 2021: 82-52 |
MacDonald |
Aleksakhin |
Sordi |
Ferreira |
| Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA 2021: 81-53 2014 Champion |
MacDonald |
Aleksakhin |
Sordi |
Ferreira |
| Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway 2021: 80-54 2018 Champion |
MacDonald |
Cooper III |
Sordi |
Camozzi |
| Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv 2021: 79-55 |
MacDonald |
Aleksakhin |
Sordi |
Ferreira |
| Brian Garcia
@thegoze 2021: 77-57 2017 Champion |
MacDonald |
Cooper III |
Sordi |
Ferreira |
| Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze 2021: 75-59 |
MacDonald |
Cooper III |
Sordi |
Camozzi |
| Matthew Wells
@MrMWells 2021: 11-7 |
MacDonald |
Cooper III |
Sordi |
Ferreira |
PFL returns this week with the continuation of the welterweight and light heavyweight regular seasons.
2021 PFL 5 takes place Thursday at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J. The main card airs on ESPN2 following prelims on ESPN+.
(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)
In the main event, former Bellator welterweight champion Rory MacDonald (22-6-1) takes on Gleison Tibau (34-15). MacDonald picked up 6 points for a first-round stoppage win in his first fight and will be looking to clinch a playoff spot with a win. Tibau badly needs a win – and likely a finish – to have a chance at the playoffs. MacDonald is a massive 10-1 betting favorite at BetMGM, and he’s one of two unanimous picks on the main card from our 13 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.
In the co-feature, 2019 welterweight season winner Ray Cooper III (21-7-1) is a -225 favorite against Nikolay Aleksakhin (26-5). Cooper is at the top of the table with MacDonald with 6 points. Aleksakhin had a no contest in his opening fight, leaving him with just 1 point in the standings. Only three of our pickers are taking Aleksakhin in an upset.
Also on the main card, 2019 light heavyweight season winner Emiliano Sordi (23-8) takes on Dan Spohn (18-8). Sordi has 3 points from an opening decision win; Spohn lost his first fight, so needs a win, and likely a finish, to have a shot at the playoffs. Sordi is a -350 betting favorite, and the second of our unanimous picks.
And to open the main card, Chris Camozzi (25-15) meets Cezar Ferreira (14-8) in a battle of former UFC fighters. Ferreira is atop the light heavyweight standings with 6 points after an opening-fight stoppage win. Camozzi lost his first bout. Ferreira is a 3-1 favorite and has a 9-4 picks advantage.
In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, MacDonald (92 percent), Cooper III (64 percent), Sordi (70 percent) and Ferreira (75 percent) are the choices.
Check out all the picks above.