[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-M5G6k2Jqw?start=749&w=560&h=315]
Sign up for ESPN+ right here, and you can then stream the PFL live on
your smart TV, computer, phone, tablet or streaming device via the
ESPN app. The main event of Professional Fighters League’s fifth show in
2021 left many scratching their head, including the man most
heavily impacted. Atop
PFL 5: 2021 Regular Season, Rory
MacDonald
suffered a contentious split decision loss to Gleison
Tibau. The overwhelming majority of those viewing the contest,
including
Sherdog’s official scorer, believed that MacDonald had done
enough to get the nod. Judges Dave Tirelli and Cardo Urso
disagreed, awarding the Brazilian the first and third rounds for
the decision.
At the post-fight press conference, MacDonald was asked about the
result, and the typically stoic Canadian had several thoughts on
what went down mere minutes beforehand.
“I’m very disappointed,” a crestfallen MacDonald told media. “I
believe…everyone I talked to, everybody online scored the fight for
me. Even three rounds to zero, and I think it was a clear robbery.
I thought I was dominant in this fight, but it was a hard fight.
Gleison brought it, and respect to him, but I believe that I
clearly won that fight and I think that this should be looked
into.”
The loss for MacDonald does not eject him from the 2021 PFL
tournament altogether, as a submission win a few months prior
earned him six points and a playoff berth. It still is listed as a
loss on his record, which does not sit well with “The Red
King.”
“I was totally sure I had [won], I was so surprised when the first
judge they announced scored it for [Tibau], I was shocked,”
MacDonald continued. “But when I heard the split decision that he
got, I was blown away. I mean, what do you say. I just didn’t see
it that way at all.”
When asked if his confidence was shaken about judging, especially
going forward in the playoffs – the events will be held in Florida,
and not in N.J. like this regular season – MacDonald expressed some
concerns.
“We shouldn’t have to [worry about decisions] as fighters, as
competitors,” the Canadian stated. “We should be able to fight, and
rest easy that we have competent, fair, truthful judging in our
sport. It shouldn’t be something that we have to worry about and
stick our necks out on the line and our health to do something
stupid. It’s just crazy. We don’t have this in any other major
sporting event. It just seems like over, and over, and over again
we’re getting this in our sport, and it’s just a real shame.”
MacDonald’s path to get the result reviewed is to submit a
complaint to the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board, as it was
recently responsive to controversy. Fabricio
Werdum suffered a contentious knockout to Renan
Ferreira, and just days later, the commission overturned the
result to a no contest.
