Defending PFL welterweight champion Ray Cooper III is one win away from defending his title.
Cooper III took a comfortable unanimous decision win over former Bellator champion Rory MacDonald Friday night at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood in Hollywood, Florida.
MacDonald tried to close the distance but Cooper III took the fight to the ground and almost submitted MacDonald with an arm-triangle in the first round.
https://twitter.com/PFLMMA/status/1426385470225854469?s=20
It was pretty much the same story in the second and third rounds. MacDonald just could not keep the fight standing long enough to combat Cooper III’s ground offensive.
https://twitter.com/PFLMMA/status/1426386832179306501?s=20
With the win, Cooper III will face Magomed Magomedkerimov in the final to defend his title and win a $1 million USD prize.
Magmedkerimov defeated Sadibou Sy by unanimous decision in the co-main event to advance.
In the lightweight bracket, Raush Manfio will meet Loik Radzhabov in the finals after both won their semi-final bouts on the main card.
In other results:
RAY COOPER III DEF. RORY MACDONALD VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
MAGOMED MAGOMEDKERIMOV DEF. SADIBOU SY VIA UD (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
RAUSH MANFIO DEF. CLAY COLLARD VIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
LOIK RADZHABOV DEF. ALEXANDER MARTINEZ VIA UD 
(30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
GLEISON TIBAU DEF. MICAH TERRILL VIA SUBMISSION (ARM-TRIANGLE) R1 2:18
OLIVIER AUBIN-MERCIER DEF. DARRELL HORCHER VIA UD (29-28, 30-26, 29-27)
BRETT COOPER DEF. TYLER HILL VIA KO (PUNCHES) R1 2:32
MAGOMED UMALATOV DEF. LEANDRO SILVAVIA UD (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
MICHAEL LOMBARDO DEF. KYRON BOWEN VIA TKO (LEG KICKS) R1 3:42
ELVIN ESPINOZA DEF. HOPETON STEWARTVIA SUBMISSION (RNC) R1 2:45
The next PFL playoff event features the women’s lightweight and men’s heavyweight semi-finals and is slated for Aug. 19. The current lineup is:
KAYLA HARRISON (10-0-0) VS. GENAH FABIAN (4-1-0)
BRUNO CAPPELOZZA (12-5-0) VS. JAMELLE JONES (11-6-0)
LARISSA PACHECCO (15-4-0) VS. TAYLOR GUARDADO (2-1-0)
DENIS GOLTSOV (27-6-0) VS. ANTE DELIJA (18-4-0)
RENAN FERREIRA (7-2-0, 1NC) VS. STUART AUSTIN (15-6-0)
KAITLIN YOUNG (12-11-1) VS. MARINA MOKHNATKINA (5-2-0)
CARL SEUMANUTAFA (12-13-0) VS. MUHAMMED DEREESE (8-4-0)
MARIANA MORAIS (17-11-0) VS. ZAMZAGUL FAYZALLANOVA (6-1-0)
CYNTHIA VESCAN (0-0-0) VS. AMANDA LEVE (0-0-0)
TBD VS. TBD
