Rory MacDonald (image via PFL/Twitter)

By FCF Staff

Rory MacDonald isn’t holding back in criticizing the judges, who awarded his fight with Gleison Tibau to the latter at PFL 5.

The former Bellator welterweight champ battled Tibau in the main event, and after 15 rounds, he appeared en route to a victory. MacDonald outstruck Tibau, and he also iniated takedowns and controlled several grappling exchanges.

But, when the decision was read out, two judges scored the fight for Tibau. While speaking to the media afterward, MacDonald had this to say about the decision (quotes via MMA Junkie).

“I’m very disappointed,” MacDonald said. “I believe and everyone I talked to, and everyone online, scored the fight for me. Even three rounds to zero, so I think it was a clear robbery. I thought I was dominant in this fight. 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.”

“We shouldn’t have to as fighters, as competitors (worry about the decision),” MacDonald also added at the post-fight presser. “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 even. It just seems like over and over and over again, we’re getting this in our sport and it’s just a real shame.”

Due to MacDonald’s (22-7-1) first-round, submission win over Curtis Millender in April, he will advance to the welterweight playoffs. Tibau (36-15), meanwhile, did not record enough points in the regular season, as he lost by decision to João Zeferino in April.