Ray
Cooper III might not be part of the
Professional Fighters League postseason this year, but he is
feeling rejuvenated heading into his showcase bout against Muhamed
Berkhamov at
PFL 9 on Friday.
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That wasn’t necessarily the case in recent months, as he struggle
to find motivation after capturing PFL championships in 2019 and
2021.
“I just wasn’t excited, from these last couple of flights and from
my previous outings in the tournament,” Cooper said during a PFL
media day. “Nothing excited excited me [in] PFL. When we first
started the playoff, it was [two fights] in [one] night. That’s
what really excited me to go and show who was really the toughest
and I just wasn’t excited [anymore. Just from my last fight with
Jason
Jackson, it just excited me again, and that’s not how I perform
and that wasn’t me.”
Cooper III would like to earn another shot at the former Bellator
welterweight champion, but ultimately, the main objective is to
find entertaining matchups that keep him engaged.
“I wasn’t even close to whatever I am now,” Cooper said. “And, the
goal is just to get that rematch back.… I just want big fights
right now.”
After the loss to Jackson at PFL vs. Bellator in February, Cooper
didn’t take a break. That alone should be a sign that the two-time
PFL champion is in the right frame of mind.
“I didn’t stop training. I trained right after that fight,” he
said. “I didn’t stop training, and I just was hungry again.”
With 36 professional fights already under his belt, Cooper has
acquired plenty of experience over the course of his career. But at
31 years old, he feels like he’s just getting started.
“Retirement is not in my vocabulary,” he said. “…I ain’t even done
yet. I’m in my prime right now. So, I am nowhere near close to
being done. I’m gonna win multiple more championships, world
titles.”
PFL 9 takes place at the Anthem in Washington, D.C. and features
semifinal bouts at featherweight and welterweight. The main card
airs on ESPN and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT, while prelims —
including Cooper vs. Berkhamov — stream on ESPN+ at 7 p.m. ET/4
p.m. PT.