Tag: Brett Cooper

2022 PFL salaries from Atlanta: Anthony Pettis tops disclosed payouts despite loss; Kayla Harrison second

This marks the first time that PFL salaries have been revealed in 2022.

The back half of the 2022 PFL regular season recently took place in Atlanta with three cards in three weeks at Overtime Elite Arena.

Each card spotlighted two specific divisions. PFL 4 took place June 17 and featured men’s lightweights and light heavyweights. One week later, PFL 5 featured featherweights and heavyweights. Last Friday, PFL 6 consisted of welterweights and women’s lightweights.

On Wednesday, MMA Junkie acquired a list of disclosed show and win purses from the Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission, the regulatory body that oversaw the events.

Former UFC lightweight champion [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] ($750,000) led all paydays despite a submission loss to [autotag]Stevie Ray[/autotag]. Two-time PFL season winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] ($500,00) was second on the list, followed by former UFC title challenger and Bellator welterweight champion [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] ($250,000).

[autotag]Jeremy Stephens[/autotag], [autotag]Lance Palmer[/autotag], [autotag]Brendan Loughnane[/autotag], [autotag]Omari Akhmedov[/autotag], and [autotag]Magomed Magomedkerimov[/autotag] also received six-figure disclosed payouts.

It’s important to note that the figures given do not reflect potential “locker room” bonuses, streaming points, or promotional sponsorship payments.

Scroll below to see the complete payouts for the most recent three PFL events.

2022 PFL 6 results: Ray Cooper III gets eliminated from playoff contention, destroys Brett Cooper in 24 seconds anyway

Ray Cooper could’ve fought safe after he was eliminated, but instead decided to go guns blazing at the sound of the opening bell.

[autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] didn’t do enough to earn a slot in the 2022 PFL playoffs, but he sure went out with a bang in his final regular season appearance.

At 2022 PFL 6, which took place Friday at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, Cooper III (25-8-1) tore through opponent [autotag]Brett Cooper[/autotag] (28-17) in just 24 seconds.

On the bubble of the playoffs at the start of the event, Cooper would’ve needed six points to clinch a playoff spot. However, just minutes before his scheduled cage-walk, Cooper had his postseason hopes spoiled when Magomed Magomedkerimov picked up six points in a first-round TKO of Dilano Taylor.

Cooper III was shown throughout the Magomedkerimov vs. Taylor bout. His expression was the same before and after his playoff dreams disappeared. He looked unfazed – and when it came time to fight, he fought unbothered.

From the opening bell, Cooper III blitzed the other Cooper. Punches and knees rained down as Brett Cooper covered up. Brett Cooper eventually turtled and hit the mat. Shortly thereafter the referee dove in to save him.

Check out the finish below:

“I was going to finish him no matter what. That was my goal,” Cooper told PFL commentator Sean O’Connell in his in-cage, post-fight interview.

Cooper III has only lost once in his most recent nine fights. It is unknown what his future holds, or if he is contractually tied to PFL going forward.

Meanwhile, Brett Cooper falls to 2-4 in his most recent six outings.

The up-to-the-minute 2022 PFL 6 results include:

2022 PFL 6: Best photos from Atlanta

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 6 which featured Kayla Harrison, Rory MacDonald, Ray Cooper III, and more.

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 6, which took place at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta, and was headlined by Kayla Harrison vs. Kaitlin Young. (Photos courtesy of PFL) (Gallery updated throughout the event.)

Photos: 2022 PFL 6 ceremonial weigh-ins

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 6 weigh-ins at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta.

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 6 weigh-ins at the Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. (Photos courtesy of PFL)

PFL 2022, Week 6 predictions: Who are our four unanimous picks in Atlanta?

Check out our staff members’ picks for the PFL Week 6 main card, which features two-time champ Kayla Harrison and Rory MacDonald.

Harrison
vs.
Young		 MacDonald
vs.
Sy		 Brett Cooper
vs.
Ray Cooper III		 Fabian
vs.
Pacheco		 Al-Silawi
vs.
Umalatov
MMA Junkie readers’
consensus picks
107-59		 harrison2022
Harrison
(90%)		 macdonald2022
MacDonald
(92%)		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III
(91%)		 pacheco2022
Pacheco
(63%)		 06/umalatov2022
Umalatov
(78%)
Ken Hathaway
@kenshathaway
112-59
trophy copy 2018 Champion		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/umalatov2022
Umalatov
Abbey Subhan
@kammakaze
110-61		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/umalatov2022
Umalatov
Mike Bohn
@MikeBohn
110-61
trophy copy 2014 Champion		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/umalatov2022
Umalatov
Simon Samano
@SJSamano
108-63		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/alsilawi2022
Al-Silawi
Matt Erickson
@MMAjunkieMatt
107-64		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/umalatov2022
Umalatov
Matthew Wells
@MrMWells
106-65		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/umalatov2022
Umalatov
Nolan King
@mma_kings
103-68		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/alsilawi2022
Al-Silawi
Brian Garcia
@thegoze
103-68
trophy copy 2017 Champion		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/alsilawi2022
Al-Silawi
Farah Hannoun
@Farah_Hannoun
100-71		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/alsilawi2022
Al-Silawi
George Garcia
@MMAjunkieGeorge
95-76		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/umalatov2022
Umalatov
Danny Segura
@dannyseguratv
82-89		 harrison2022
Harrison		 macdonald2022
MacDonald		 raycooper2022
Ray Cooper III		 pacheco2022
Pacheco		 06/alsilawi2022
Al-Silawi

Editor’s note: The main card fight between Magomed Magomedkerimov (29-6) and late replacement Dilano Taylor (9-1) was booked too late to be included in our staff picks and reader picks.

The PFL is back for its final event of the regular season fights with women’s lightweights and welterweights vying for playoff positions.

PFL 2022, Week 6 takes place Friday at Overtime Elite Arena in Atlanta. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

(Click here to open a PDF of the staff picks grid in a separate window.)

In the main event, two-time women’s lightweight winner [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (13-0) takes on late replacement [autotag]Kaitlin Young[/autotag] (12-12-1). Harrison is a massive favorite of as much as 50-1, and she’s one of four unanimous picks on the main card from our 11 editors, writers, radio hosts and videographers.

In the co-feature, former Bellator welterweight champ [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] (23-8-1) is a big favorite against [autotag]Sadibou Sy[/autotag] (10-6-2). MacDonald currently leads the welterweight standings and is a unanimous pick from our staff members.

Also on the main card, [autotag]Brett Cooper[/autotag] (28-16) is a heavy underdog against two-time welterweight winner [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] (24-8-1). Ray Cooper is another unanimous pick at 11-0.

In a women’s lightweight bout, [autotag]Larissa Pacheco[/autotag] (16-4) is more than a 4-1 favorite against [autotag]Genah Fabian[/autotag] (5-2) and is our fourth unanimous pick.

And to open the main card, we have our only contentious bout among our pickers. [autotag]Jarrah Al-Silawi[/autotag] (18-3) is roughly a 2-1 underdog against [autotag]Magomed Umalatov[/autotag] (11-0). It’s close with our pickers: Umalatov has just a 6-5 edge.

In the MMA Junkie reader consensus picks, Harrison (90 percent), MacDonald (92 percent), Ray Cooper III (91 percent), Pacheco (63 percent) and Umalatov (78 percent) are the choices.

Check out all the picks above.

2022 PFL 3: Best photos from Arlington

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 3 which took place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Check out these photos from 2022 PFL 3 which took place at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photos courtesy of Cooper Neill, PFL)

2022 PFL 3 results: Rory MacDonald makes quick work of Brett Cooper

Former UFC title challenger Rory MacDonald won at 2022 PFL 3 when he submitted Brett Cooper.

[autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] kicked off his 2022 PFL season with a slick submission Friday in Arlington, Texas.

At 2022 PFL 3, MacDonald (23-8-1) dominated opponent [autotag]Brett Cooper[/autotag] (28-16) on the ground before he ended the fight with a rear-naked choke at 2:23 of Round 1. The finish at Esports Stadium earned him six points as he vies for playoff contention.

MacDonald almost immediately got the fight to the canvas and moved to mount. From there, he softened up Cooper with strikes but the American fighter gave the Canadian his back. From there, MacDonald swiftly locked in his squeeze and got the tap.

With the win, MacDonald bounces back from a two-fight skid. His most recent win was his 2021 season debut, when he submitted Curtis Millender with a similar rear-naked choke.

As for Cooper, he falls to 2-3 in his most recent five fights. Prior to a non-season win for PFL in 2021 that earned him 2022 season entry, Cooper competed for Bellator, KSW, and ACA among other promotions.

The up-to-the-minute

  • Rory MacDonald def. Brett Cooper via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:23
  • Larissa Pacheco def. Zamzagul Fayzallanova via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:25
  • Dilano Taylor def. Joao Zeferino via split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Genah Fabian def. Julia Budd via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Sadibou Sy def. Nikolay Aleksakhin via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)
  • Jarrah Al-Silawi def. Gleison Tibau via split decision (27-30, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Olena Kolesnyk def. Abigail Montes via split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Martina Jindrova def. Vanessa Melo via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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2022 PFL 3 faceoffs video: Kayla Harrison vs. Marina Mokhnatkina, Anthony Pettis, Rory MacDonald, more

Watch the pre-fight staredowns and check out the photo gallery from the 2022 PFL 3 weigh-ins.

ARLINGTON, Texas – Fighters competing at 2022 PFL 3 went face-to-face at ceremonial weigh-ins ahead of their bouts on Friday.

The 2021 PFL champion [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] (12-0) squared off with [autotag]Marina Mokhnatkina[/autotag] (6-2) Thursday. The two competitors are set to meet in the main event of Friday’s event, capping off the first event of the season including the women’s lightweight division.

In the co-main event, 2021 welterweight champion [autotag]Ray Cooper III[/autotag] (24-7-1) will face PFL Challenger Series newcomer [autotag]Carlos Leal[/autotag] (16-3) to close out the first event featuring 170-pound fighters.

The main card for PFL Championship airs on ESPN2 and streams on ESPN+ at 9 p.m. ET following the prelims on ESPN+ at 6 p.m. ET.

Check out the pre-fight faceoffs in the video above and the photo gallery from the weigh-ins below.

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Photos: 2022 PFL 3 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs

Check out these photos from the 2022 PFL 3 ceremonial weigh-ins.

Check out these images from the 2022 PFL 3 ceremonial weigh-ins and faceoffs at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photos by Matthew Wells, MMA Junkie)

Kayla Harrison’s first fight of 2022 headlines PFL 3; Rory MacDonald, Anthony Pettis on card

Fresh off her new PFL deal, Kayla Harrison is back in a headlining spot.

Fresh off signing a new PFL contract, [autotag]Kayla Harrison[/autotag] is back in a headlining spot.

Harrison (12-0) will face [autotag]Marina Mokhnatkina[/autotag] (6-2) in the women’s lightweight main event of 2022 PFL 3 on May 6 at Esports Arena in Arlington, Texas, the promotion announced Tuesday. The event will air on ESPN 2 and stream on ESPN+.

Harrison, a two-time PFL champion, explored free agency after winning her second title last October, but she ultimately re-signed with the PFL. The unbeaten two-time Olympic gold medalist judoka finished Mariana Morais, Cindy Dandois, Genah Fabian, and Taylor Guardado in the final to win the title.

Mokhnatkina, a Fight Nights Global and Bellator veteran, made her successful PFL debut last August when she defeated Claudia Zamora by unanimous decision in what was the combat sambo champion’s lightweight debut.

[lawrence-related id=2531709,2531612]

Co-headlining PFL 3 will be former Bellator welterweight champion and ex-UFC title challenger [autotag]Rory MacDonald[/autotag] (22-8-1), who takes on veteran [autotag]Brett Cooper[/autotag] (28-15). MacDonald, 32, will kick off his second PFL season after going 1-2 last year.

Former UFC and WEC lightweight champ [autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag]’ (24-12) originally scheduled bout with [autotag]Myles Price[/autotag] (11-7) has been rescheduled from PFL 1 on April 20 to PFL 3.

The 2022 PFL 3 lineup includes:

  • Kayla Harrison vs. Marina Mokhnatkina
  • Ray Cooper III vs. Magomed Umalatov
  • Anthony Pettis vs. Myles Price
  • Rory MacDonald vs. Brett Cooper
  • Magomed Magomedkerimov vs. Joao Zeferino
  • Genah Fabian vs. Julia Budd
  • Sadibou Sy vs. Nikolai Aleksakhin
  • Larissa Pacheco vs. Zamzagul Fayzallanova
  • Gleison Tibau vs. Jarrah Al Silawi
  • Olena Kolesnyk vs. Abigail Montes
  • Vanessa Melo vs. Martina Jindrova

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