HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Ray Cooper III shocked the MMA world on Friday night.
The 2019 PFL lightweight champion dominated former Bellator champion and long-time UFC contender Rory MacDonald in the main event of 2021 PFL Playoffs 1. Cooper III (22-7-1) officially defeated MacDonald (22-7-1) via unanimous decision, winning 30-27 on all three judges’ scorecards.
Cooper III now advances to the 2021 PFL lightweight final. He’s set to take on Magomed Magomedkerimov, who defeated Sadibou Sy in the co-main event. The final is scheduled for Oct. 27 also at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood.
The 2021 PFL Playoffs 1 took place on Friday night at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood. The main card air on ESPN 2 and ESPN+ with the prelims exclusively on ESPN+.
It was a one-way street for Cooper III.
The Hawaiian was pressed early in the fight, as MacDonald clinched him up against the cage. But after a few minutes, Cooper III took down MacDonald and dominated the action. Cooper III sank in an arm-triangle but time ran out on the clock before he could get the finish.
Ray Cooper III ends the 1st round with Rory locked up in a choke! Was it enough to win the round?#PFLPlayoffs LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 ESPN+ & ESPN2
🌍 https://t.co/WfOt9XBfzk pic.twitter.com/hc5UguL1Vl— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 14, 2021
The second and third rounds were the same story: Cooper III took the fight to the ground and shut down MacDonald’s defense. There were brief times where the fight was on the feet, but even then Cooper III appeared to land the more meaningful strikes.
How have you scored the fight so far?#PFLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/7nEyZWGkwz
— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 14, 2021
It was a dominant and complete showing by Cooper III.
Cooper III entered on a four-fight winning streak and being the last winner of the welterweight season, having crowned himself champion in 2019 with a win over David Michaud in the 2019 PFL finals. The win over MacDonald is arguably his biggest and perhaps paired with his two wins over former Strikeforce champion Jake Shields.
Meanwhile, MacDonald entered the 2021 PLF playoffs having defeated Curtis Millender with a first-round submission and then losing a controversial split-decision to Gleison Tibau. The first-round finish over Millender was enough to get him six points and into the playoffs. MacDonald is now on a two-fight losing streak.
The full official 2021 PFL Playoffs 1 results include:
- Ray Cooper III def. Rory MacDonald via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – welterweight semifinal
- Magomed Magomedkerimov def. Sadibou Sy via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – welterweight semifinal
- Raush Manfio def. Clay Collard via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) – lightweight semifinal
- Loik Radzhabov def. Alexander Martinez via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) – lightweight semifinal
- Gleison Tibau def. Micah Terrill via submission (arm triangle) – Round 1, 2:18
- Olivier Aubin-Mercier def. Darrell Horcher via unanimous decision (29-28, 30-26, 29-27)
- Brett Cooper def. Tyler Hill via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 2:32
- Magomed Umalatov def. Leandro Silva via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Michael Lombardo def. Kyron Bowen via TKO (leg kicks) – Round 1, 3:42
- Elvin Espinoza def. Hopeton Stewart via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:45
