Ray Cooper III expects trilogy bout vs. Magomed Magomedkerimov this PFL season

ARLINGTON, Texas – PFL welterweight champion Ray Cooper III sees a familiar foe is in his future this season.

Cooper expects to cross paths with 2018 PFL champ Magomed Magomedkerimov, whom he’s fought twice before. Cooper (24-7-1) first faced Magomedkerimov in the 2018 welterweight final. He lost by second-round guillotine choke. Cooper would later settle the score as he met the Russian in the 2021 final, winning by third-round knockout.

The Hawaiian is well aware anything can happen during the season and in the playoffs, but he has a feeling he’ll meet Magomedkerimov a third time.

“I’m not too sure. Everyone is kind of even, and anything could happen, but I really think Magomed gonna be back, and we’re gonna have our trilogy,” Cooper told MMA Junkie at 2022 PFL 3 media day on Wednesday.

Despite his gut feeling, Cooper is indifferent about a trilogy bout with Magomedkerimov.

“If it happens it happens, but my goal is just to get to the final and whoever is there is there,” Cooper said. “That’s the kind of mentality you have to have going into these tournaments. You can’t expect to fight somebody in the championship if he’s not there, so you have to be ready to fight anybody.”

The 29-year-old Cooper returns Friday in the co-main event of 2022 PFL 3. He takes on PFL newcomer Carlos Leal. Cooper doesn’t know much about Leal but is confident he’ll get the job done regardless.

“I didn’t watch any of his fights, just kind of saw the highlights,” Cooper said. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before. I have a lot of fights and fought a lot of guys, a lot of different styles. He’s just in my way.”