On Thursday, June 17, the Professional Fighters League hosted the fifth event of its season, PFL 2021 5, from the Ocean Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.
In the night’s headliner, former Bellator MMA champion and UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald made his second league appearance debut against fellow UFC alum Gleison Tibau.
Also on the card, two of the promotion’s previous champions continued their quest to repeat as welterweight titlist Ray Cooper III faced Nikolay Aleksakhin and light heavyweight champ Emiliano Sordi took on Dan Spohn.
The action kicked off on ESPN+ at 5:30 p.m. ET, with the main card airing live on ESPN 2 at 9 p.m. ET.
FULL RESULTS
Gleison Tibau def. Rory MacDonald by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Ray Cooper III def. Nikolay Aleksakhin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Emiliano Sordi vs. Dan Spohn ruled a unanimous draw (28-28 x3)
Chris Camozzi def. Cezar Ferreira by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Antônio Carlos Júnior vs. Vinny Magalhães ruled a no-contest (accidental groin strike). Round 1, 2:45
Cory Hendricks def. Marthin Hamlet Nielsen by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 3, 4:09
João Zeferino def. Jason Ponet by submission (arm-triangle choke). Round 2, 2:16
Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Curtis Millender by submission (Ezekiel choke). Round 1, 1:57
Tom Lawlor def. Jordan Young by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Sadibou Sy def. Aleksei Kunchenko by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)
Ray Cooper III def. Nikolay Aleksakhin by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Emiliano Sordi vs. Dan Spohn ruled a unanimous draw (28-28 x3)
Chris Camozzi def. Cezar Ferreira by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-27)
Antônio Carlos Júnior vs. Vinny Magalhães ruled a no-contest (accidental groin strike). Round 1, 2:45
Cory Hendricks def. Marthin Hamlet Nielsen by submission (rear-naked choke). Round 3, 4:09
João Zeferino def. Jason Ponet by submission (arm-triangle choke). Round 2, 2:16
Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Curtis Millender by submission (Ezekiel choke). Round 1, 1:57
Tom Lawlor def. Jordan Young by unanimous decision (30-27 x3)
Sadibou Sy def. Aleksei Kunchenko by unanimous decision (29-28 x3)