Ray Cooper III may not be competing in this year’s Professional Fighters League postseason, but he appears to be in high spirits heading into Friday’s showcase bout against Mohamed Belkhamov at PFL 9.
But that hasn’t necessarily been the case in recent months, as he has struggled to find motivation after winning PFL championships in 2019 and 2021.
“I wasn’t excited about these two flights or from my previous matches in the tournament,” Cooper said at PFL media day. “There was nothing to be excited about. [in] PFL. When the playoffs first started [two fights] in [one] “I was really looking forward to showing who was the toughest that night, but I’m not excited about it anymore. I got excited about it again in my last fight against Jason Jackson, but that’s not my style, that’s not me.”
Cooper III would love to take on the former Bellator welterweight champion again, but ultimately, it’s all about finding an entertaining matchup that will keep him interested.
“I was nowhere near where I am now,” Cooper said. “My goal is just to get a rematch. I just want a big fight now.”
Cooper didn’t take a break after his PFL vs. Bellator loss to Jackson in February, which should be proof enough that the two-time PFL champion is in the right frame of mind.
“I didn’t stop training, I continued training right after that fight,” he said. “I didn’t stop training and I was hungry again.”
With 36 professional fights under his belt, Cooper has gained a wealth of experience throughout his career, but at 31 years old, he feels he’s only just getting started.
“Retirement is not in my vocabulary,” he said. “… I’m not done yet. I’m in the prime of my career right now, so I’m not close to the end at all. I plan on winning more championships, world titles.”
PFL 9 will take place at Anthem in Washington, DC and will feature the featherweight and welterweight semifinal bouts. The main card will air on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10pm ET/7pm PT, while the pre-limit bout, including Cooper vs. Belkamov, will stream on ESPN+ at 7pm ET/4pm PT.
