2021 PFL 5 predictions: Is anyone taking Gleison Tibau over heavy favorite Rory MacDonald?

MMA News

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
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
2021: 81-53
MacDonald
(92%)
cooper2021
Cooper III
(64%)
sordi2021
Sordi
(70%)
ferreira2021
Ferreira
(75%)
Nolan King
@mma_kings
2021: 82-52
MacDonald aleksakhin2021
Aleksakhin
sordi2021
Sordi
ferreira2021
Ferreira
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
2021: 81-53
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
camozzi2021
Camozzi
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohnMMA
2021: 81-53
trophy copy 2014 Champion
MacDonald aleksakhin2021
Aleksakhin
sordi2021
Sordi
ferreira2021
Ferreira
John Morgan
@MMAjunkieJohn
2021: 80-54
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
ferreira2021
Ferreira
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
2021: 80-54
trophy copy 2018 Champion
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
camozzi2021
Camozzi
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
2021: 79-55
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
camozzi2021
Camozzi
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
2021: 79-55
MacDonald aleksakhin2021
Aleksakhin
sordi2021
Sordi
ferreira2021
Ferreira
Dan Tom
@DanTomMMA
2021: 78-56
trophy copy 2020 Champion
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
ferreira2021
Ferreira
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
2021: 77-57
trophy copy 2017 Champion
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
ferreira2021
Ferreira
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
2021: 76-58
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
ferreira2021
Ferreira
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
2021: 75-59
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
camozzi2021
Camozzi
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
2021: 75-59
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
ferreira2021
Ferreira
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
2021: 11-7
MacDonald cooper2021
Cooper III
sordi2021
Sordi
ferreira2021
Ferreira
BetMGM
Betting Favorites
MacDonald -1000 cooper2021
Cooper III -225
sordi2021
Sordi -350
ferreira2021
Ferreira -300

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.

2021 PFL 5 predictions: Is anyone taking Gleison Tibau over heavy favorite Rory MacDonald?