Rory MacDonald will serve as the headliner for his second straight PFL event.
On Wednesday, PFL officials announced the lineup for the second round of 2021 regular-season bouts for welterweights and light heavyweights, which take place at 2021 PFL 5 on June 17. In the main event, MacDonald (22-6-1) faces fellow ex-UFC fighter Gleison Tibau (35-15) at Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.
MacDonald made good in his promotional debut, when he submitted Curtis Millender in the first round at 2021 PFL 2. The win placed the former Bellator welterweight champion and UFC title challenger at the top of the season standings, alongside reigning PFL champion Ray Cooper III, who also notched six points when he choked out Jason Ponet in the co-main event.
Cooper (21-7-1) will serve as the co-main event once again when he takes on Nikolay Aleksakhin (26-5-1). Also on the main card is 2019 PFL light heavyweight champ Emiliano Sordi (23-8), who takes on Dana White’s Contender Series alum Dan Spohn (18-8). Finally, leader on the light heavyweight board Cezar Ferreira (14-8) will look to build off his 37-second knockout over Nick Roehrick when he faces Chris Camozzi (25-15).
A grapplers delight between Antonio Carlos Junior (11-5-1), who submitted Tom Lawlor in his promotional debut, and 2018 light heavyweight finalist Vinny Magalhaes (19-12-1) will serve as the featured prelim.
#2021PFL5 MATCHUPS ARE OFFICIAL!
Welterweights and Light Heavyweights make their final push towards the 2021 PFL Playoffs! pic.twitter.com/pRppWGHvOh
— PFL (@PFLMMA) May 19, 2021
The full 2021 PFL 5 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (ESPN 2, 9 p.m. E.T.)
- Rory MacDonald vs. Gleison Tibau
- Ray Cooper III vs. Nikolay Aleksakhin
- Emiliano Sordi vs. Dan Spohn
- Cezar Ferreira vs. Chris Camozzi
PRELIMINARY CARD (ESPN+, 5:30 p.m. E.T.)
- Antonio Carlos Junior vs. Vinny Magalhaes
- Marthin Hamlet vs. Cory Hendricks
- Jason Ponet vs. Joao Zeferino
- Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Curtis Millender
- Tom Lawlor vs. Jordan Young
- Aleksei Kunchenko vs. Sadibou Sy
