Live-Blogging: 2021 PFL MMA 5 Main Card: Welterweights and Light Heavyweights

2021 PFL MMA 5 Main Card: Welterweights and Light Heavyweights

Hello, and welcome to another edition of ‘Live-Blogging Shish on Mixed Martial Arts’. Tonight, it is the ‘ESPN 2 Card’ of ‘2021 Professional Fighters League 5: Welterweights and Light Heavyweights’.
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The Main Event and Co-Main Event of tonight are in the welterweight division. Rory McDonald gets the main event again, as he takes on Gleison Tibau. Brazil’s Tibau is coming off a decision loss to Joao Zefrino. But Canada’s McDonald is coming off a 1st Round submission victory over Curtis Millender. But he was not the only welterweight who won by 1st Round submission.

Ray Cooper, III defeated Jason Ponet by 1st Round submission as well. Cooper is in tonight’s co-main event, taking on Russia’s Nikolai Aleksakhin.

Aleksakhin is coming off a no contest due to Sadibou Sy poked Nikolai in the eye accidentally. The no contest gave Aleksakhin and Sy a point, which gives them 4th and 5th Place after their first of 2 regular season fights.

Update: The Welterweight Fighters who advance to the Playoffs in August are Joao Zeferino and Rory MacDonald. While the Light Heavyweights will fight in August are Antonio Carlos, Junior and Cezar Ferreira.

Here are the fights on the ‘ESPN 2 Card’:

Cezar Ferreira (1-0, 6 points) vs. Chris Camozzi (0-1, 0 points) (Light Heavyweight Bout):
Camozzi is 2-inches taller than Ferreira.

Ferreira is in the PFL Playoffs. While Camozzi needs a 1st Round Finish Victory for a chance to be in PFL 8.

Ferreira is in the gold trunks. While Camozzi is in black trunks.

Gary Copeland is the referree.

1st Round:
4:42: Ferreira with a leg kick.
4:38: Camozzi with some jabs.
4:02: Ferreira with a leg kick.
3:55: Ferreira with a takedown.
2:41: Ferreira with some punches.
2:03: Ferreira with some side punches.
1:45: Camozzi with a hammer fists, from bottom mount.
1:24: Camozzi with another hammer fists, from bottom mount.
1:17: Camozzi with some punches.
:57: Ferreira with a headlock.
:33: Both fighters are perfect in their striking.
:18: Ferreira with a knee.
:10: Camozzi gets back off the mat.
:00: The End of Round 1.
My Guess: Ferreira wins Round 1, 10-9.

Round 2:
4:52: Camozzi with a couple of punches.
4:19: Ferreira blocks some punches by Camozzi.
4:03: Ferreira with a leg kick.
3:37: Ferreira with a body kick.
3:22: Camozzi with a left, that knocks Ferreira to the mat.
3:18: Camozzi with some shots.
2:30: Both fighters exchange punches on the mat.
2:00: Camozzi has 2 minutes to stop this fight, for a chance to advance.
1:38: Camozzi with an elbow to the jaw, on top mount.
:52: Camozzi with a hammer fists.
:10: Camozzi with some shots, but will not finish Ferreira.
:00: The End of Round 2.
My Guess: Camozzi wins Round 2, 10-8.

Round 3:
​4:55: Camozzi with a leg kick.
4:38: Camozzi with a standing guillotine.
4:30: Camozzi gets Ferreira down on the mat.
4:10: Both fighters get back off the mat.
3:52: Ferreira with a left punch.
3::32: Camozzi with a combo.
3;13: Camozzi with some punch combo, before a takedown attempt.
2:40: Ferreira with a takedown attempt, but Camozzi is on top mount.
1:49: Both fighters get back off the mat.
1:30: Camozzi with a combo.
1:27: Camozzi with a leg kick.
:55: Both fighters exchange strikes.
:38: Ferreira with a body punch.
:22: Ferreira with a takedown attempt.
:00: The End of Round 3 and Fight.
My Guess: Camozzi wins Round 3, 10-9. Camozzi wins Fight, 29-27.

Result:
Chris Camozzi wins by unanimous decision 2(29-28), (29-27)
Camozzi (1-1, 3 points)
Ferreira (1-1, 6 points)

Camozzi is eliminated from PFL Playoffs. While Marthin Hamlet will fight in August.

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Emiliano Sordi (1-0, 3 points) vs. Dan Spohn (0-1, 0 points) (Light Heavyweight Bout):
Spohn is 2-inches taller, but Sordi has a 2-inch leg reach advantage.

Sordi is in the gold trunks. While Spohn is in black trunks.

Round 1:
4:58: Spohn with a right punch.
4:48: Sordi with a leg kick.
4:28: Spohn with a takedown.
4:16: Spohn with a rear naked choke attempt.
3:43: Sordi gets out and is on top mount.
3:07: Sordi with som punches.
2:25: Sordi with some punches.
1:53: Sordi with some punches .
1:44: Sordi has Spohn's back.
1:09: Sordi with some punches.
:45: The Fight is paused for a possible back of the head. Sordi loses a point for a back to the head punches.
:38: Sordi with a takedown attempt.
:15: Sordi misses some head kicks.
:04: Sordi with a kick to the shoulder.
:00: The End of Round 1.
My Guess: It is a draw, 9-9.

Round 2:
​4:02: Spohn with a left punch.
3:42: Sordi with a right punch.
3:29: Sordi with some left punches.
3:16: Sordi with a left kick.
2:55: Sordi with a right.
2:42: Both fighters are in the clinch.
2:28: Sordi gets Spohn down on the mat.
2:07: Spohn gets off top mount.
1:46: Spohn has Sordi's back.
1:22: Sordi gets back on top mount.
:18: Spohn has Sordi on the back.
:00: The End of Round 2.

My Guess: Sordi wins Round 2, 10-9.

Round 3:
4:19: Spohn with a leg kick.
3:45: The Ref stops the fight, with a cup check.
3:45: Ref continues.
3:33: Sordi with a kick to the body.
3:16: Spohn with a left punch.
2:59: Sordi with a right jab.
2:41: Sordi with an uppercut.
2:25: Spohn with a leg kick.
2:12: Spohn with a left.
2:00: Both fighters in the clinch.
1:48: Spohn blocks Sordi's kick.
1:28: Spohn blocks Sordi's kick and swept the leg.
:59: Spohn with a left punch.
:39: Both fighters exchange punches.
:28: Sordi with some combos.
:00: The End of Round 3 and Fight.

My Guess: Spohn wins Round 3, 10-9. The Fight is a draw.

A Spohn Win by Decision and Cory Hendricks is in PFL Playoffs.

A Sordi Win or Draw and Emiliano Sordi will fight in August.

Result:
The Fight is a unanimous draw.

Sordi: (1-0-1, 4 points)
Spohn: (0-1-1, 1 point)

Sordi advances to PFL Playoffs.


Co-Main Event: Ray Cooper, III (1-0, 6 points) vs. Nikolai Aleksakhin (0-0-0, 1 NC, 1 point) (Welterweight Bout):
Aleksakhin has advantages in height and arm reach. But Cooper has the advantage in leg reach.

Cooper missed weight, and should lose a point.

Cooper is in red and blue trunks. Aleksakhin is in black and gray trunks.

Gasper Oliver is the referee.

Round 1:
4:52: Aleksakhin with a kick to the body.
4:32: Both fighters exchange hooks.
4:16: Cooper with a takedown attmept.
3:59: Cooper with a left hook.
3:44: Cooper with a takedown attempt.
3:12: Both fighters exchange knees.
2:47: Cooper failed to takedown Aleksakhin a few times.
2:16: Cooper with a combo, after Aleksakhin with a missed kick.
1:35: Cooper with a left jab.
1:14: Cooper with left hook.
1:02: Cooper with a right and now attempting a takedown.
:32: Aleksakhin with a takedown attempt.
:10: Aleksakhin with a kick and Cooper counters with a combo.
:00: The End of Round 1
My Guess: Cooper wins Round 1, 10-9.

Round 2:
​4:55: Cooper with a left.
4:40: Aleksakhin with a kick to the body.
4:27: Cooper with a right hook.
3:50: Both fighters exchange strikes.
3;39: Aleksakhin with a left hook.
3:20: Cooper with a left jab.
3:03: Cooper with a right.
2:56: Aleksahkin with a left.
2:44: Aleksakhin with a spinning fists.
2:28: Cooper with a pnch combo.
2;14: Aleksakhin with a flying knee attempt.
2:01: Cooper with a left jab.
1:50: Both fighters in the clinch, on the cage.
1:20: Cooper with a body shot.
1:07: Cooper with a takedown attempt.
:42: Cooper with some knee shots to the body.
:28: Cooper is getting close to a takedown.
:05: Cooper with a knee.
:00: The End of Round 2.

My Guess: Ray Cooper, III wins Round 2, 10-9.

Round 3:
​4:47: Cooper with a leg kick.
4:30: Cooper with a bodyshot.
4:08: Cooper with a right .
4:00: Aleksakhin with some knees.
3:55: Cooper with a takedown of the fight.
3:18: Cooper has Aleksakhin's back.
2:52: Cooper with a couple of knees.
2:09: Aleksakhin is slowly getting back off the mat.
1:27: Aleksakhin with a right, while Cooper is on the Russian.
1:03: Cooper trying all he can to get a takedown.
:38: Aleksakhin with a side kick.
:20: Both fighters exchange punches.
:04: Aleksakhin with a takedown attempt.
:00: The End of Round 3 and Fight.

My Guess: Ray Cooper, III wins Round 3, 10-9. Cooper wins Fight, 30-27.
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Result: Ray Cooper, III wins by unanimous decision (30-27) 2(29-28).

Cooper: (1-0-1, 5 points)
Aleksakhin: (0-1-0, 1 NC, 0 points)

Ray Cooper, III advances to PFL Playoffs.

Back in April, I Live-Blogged 2021 PFL 1 Main Card

Main Event: Rory MacDonald (1-0, 6 points) vs. Gleison Tibau (0-1, 0 points) (Welterweight Bout):
McDonald has all of the advantages in the Tale of the Tape, including 4-inch height advantage and a 5-inch arm reach advantage.

MacDonald is in the red and blue trunks. Tibau is in the black and gray trunks.

Round 1:
4:37: MacDonald with a punch.
3:57: MacDonald with a kick to the body.
3:24: MacDonald with a couple of punches.
3:12: Both fighters exchange punches.
2:28: MacDonald with a eye poke and Tibau went all the way to the cage.
2:28: Ref resumes the fight.
2:19: Tibau with a left punch.
2:07: Tibau with some punches.
2:05: MacDonald with a takedown attempt.
1:23: MacDonald with a body kick.
:55: MacDonald with a half nelson attempt.
:22: MacDonald with a rear naked choke attempt.
:02: MacDonald with a kick.
:00: The End of Round1.

My Guess: MacDonald wins Round 1, 10-9.

Round 2:
​4:55: MacDonald with a takedown.
4:42: MacDonald with a takedown attempt.
4:02: Tibau get back off the mat.
3:40: MacDonald with a body shot
3:12: MacDonald's kick blocked. But MacDonald with some punches.
2:41: MacDonald with a body shot.
2:24: Tibau blocks another MacDonald kick.
2:10: Both fighters exchange strikes.
1:46: MacDonald with a right.
1:22: MacDonald with a right punch.
1:01: Tibau missed a spinning fist.
:30: MacDonald with a kick to the head.
:10: Tibau with a punches.
:00: The End of Round 2.

My Guess: MacDonald wins Round 2, 10-9.

Round 3:
​4:34: MacDonald with a knee.
4:08: MacDonald with a leg kick.
4:00: Tibau with a combo.
3:40: MacDonald blocks a Tibau kick.
3:07: MacDonald with a side kick.
2:47: Tibau with a left hook.
2:16: Tibau came close with a left hook.
2;06: MacDonald had another eye poke.
1:49: Tibau with a left punch.
1:03: MacDonald with a right jab.
:25: Tibau missed a spinning fist.
:00: The End of Round 3 and Fight.

My Guess: MacDonald wins Round 3, 10-9. MacDonald wins Fight, 30-27.

Result: Gleison Tibau wins by split decision.

Tibau: (1-1, 3 points)
MacDonald: (1-1, 6 points)

MacDonald is the #2 Seed and will face Ray Cooper, III in the PFL Playoffs.

Final Thoughts:
So, the PFL Playoffs is set in the Welterweight and Light Heavyweight Division.

The Welterweight Division has Joao Zeferino vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov, while Rory MacDonald will face Ray Cooper, III in the other semifinals.

In the Light Heavyweight Division, Antonio Carlos, Junior will take on Emiliano Sordi in one semifinal. While Cezar Ferreira will take on Marthin Hamlet in the other semifinal.

PFL Regular Season concludes Next Friday, when the Heavyweights and Women's Lightweights will be fighting. As well as Anthony Pettis and Lance Palmer will be fighting for their seasons.

This is Paul Shishkoff, Junior. This has been 'Live-Blogging Shish on Mixed Martial Arts'. Thanks for visiting this page.