Gleison Tibau pulled off a massive upset over Rory MacDonald at 2021 PFL 5 on Thursday.
Entering the fight with his playoff hopes alive, Tibau (35-15) needed to finish MacDonald (22-7-1) within the first two rounds in order to secure a playoff spot. Although the finish never came, two of the judges believed Tibau did enough to win the fight on their scorecards, giving him a shocking split decision victory in the main event which took place at the Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J.
“Rory MacDonald’s a legend,” Tibau stated during the post-fight news conference. “Tough guy. The complete fighter. Good wrestling, good striking, good grappling. No easy fight.”
Prior to his first fight in the 2021 PFL season against Joao Zeferino in March, Tibau, 37, was approaching a two-year stretch between fights.
“I’m so happy because (for) a long time (I had) no fight,” Tibau said. My first fight here in PFL (was) Zeferino. Tough guy, Brazilian too. Long time I didn’t compete. I lost time. Today I’m more comfortable in the octagon.”
Tibau lost his PFL debut by unanimous decision but rebounded with an incredible upset over MacDonald despite everyone counting him out. When asked how he felt about the decision before it was read, the Brazilian did not know what to expect to hear from the ring announcer.
“Nervous,” Tibau responded. “Because, tough fight, you know? Every fighter I know, when a tough fight goes to the decision, everybody (is) nervous. I don’t know. Big surprise!”
Gleison Tibau pulls off the upset!!#2021PFL5 pic.twitter.com/xDQqijC7jq
— PFL (@PFLMMA) June 18, 2021
Tibau finishes his 2021 PFL season with three points, which was not enough to make it to the playoffs.