One of the more vicious combatants ever seen in the PFL SmartCage, Ray Cooper III has been there since the inaugural PFL season in 2018. He was a talented presence, making the playoffs three consecutive times. In 2019, Cooper submitted Zane Kamaka, lost to John Howard and drew with Sadibou Sy. His wins over Chris Curtis and David Michaud, however, landed Cooper the 2019 PFL welterweight title. The next season, Cooper racked up more wins, defeating Jason Ponet, Nikolay Aleksakhin, Rory MacDonald and Magomed Magomedkerimov to repeat as champion. Cooper has won just one of three since that second title, however, most recently dropping a decision to Derek Brunson at the 2023 PFL World Championships. Cooper, who holds the PFL records for most wins (10) and most knockouts (8) comes into this fight on late notice after an injury to Magomedkerimov.

 

Jason Jackson is all about the action. A professional since 2012, Jackson won regional gold at welterweight – a time that also saw him face Colby Covington and Hayder Hassan before they were better known – before joining Bellator on an exclusive basis in 2019. The Jamaican-born Jackson has won seven straight and 10 of his last 11. After wins over Neiman Gracie, Paul Daley and Douglas Lima, Jackson knocked out the then-undefeated Yaroslav Amosov at Bellator 301 in November to capture the Bellator welterweight championship.

 

Who will come out victorious in what should be an action-packed battle?

 

 

Round 1

 

Cooper tries to get on the inside of Jackson right away, trying to get around Jackson’s reach advantage. Jackson flashes the left jab. Hard low kick by Jackson. Cooper comes in but whiffs on a strike. Cooper throws a low kick. Left jab by Jackson. Cooper throws a left, but Jackson avoids the strong right hook. Jackson lands another leg kick. Jackson misses a left jab. Jackson lands a low kick and blocks a right hand from Cooper. Cooper misses a straight to the body.

 

Cooper throws a one-two but looks off-balance. Jackson locks up Cooper and forces him back to the fence. Jackson scores a takedown with about two minutes left in the round. Jackson looks to work in Cooper’s guard. Jackson takes Cooper’s head off the fence and brings him full to the mount, looking to work him over from there. Cooper has an underhook, but Jackson landing a couple of elbows. Jackson tries to rain down some ground-and-pound in the closing seconds of the round, and he narrowly misses getting the finish.

 

 

Round 2

 

Low kick from Jackson to start. Left hand by Jackson. Strong leg kick from Jackson takes out Cooper’s leg, and some follow-up ground-and-pound puts this one to bed!

 

Jason Jackson lives up to his nickname - “The A**-Kicking Machine!”

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Jason Jackson defeats Ray Cooper III by 2nd round TKO (0:23), winning the Super Belt