Rory MacDonald on Ray Cooper III 2021 PFL Playoffs bout

Rory MacDonald takes on Ray Cooper III in the main event of the kickoff show for the 2021 PFL Playoffs. This welterweight affair goes down on Friday, August 13th.

It transpires live from Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. The pugilistic proceedings are set to broadcast on ESPN 2 and ESPN+.

Rory MacDonald & Ray Cooper III Clash in the PFL Playoffs Welterweight Semifinals!

The 2021 #PFLPlayoffs begin Friday, August 13!
Main Card: 9P ET on ESPN2 & ESPN+
Prelims: 5:30P ET on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/u1uFx7Stf8

— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 12, 2021

Below is the excerpt from my interaction with the former Bellator welterweight champion/ UFC veteran ahead of this high stakes bout at 170 lbs.

Rory MacDonald

This is a fight that’s finally coming to fruition, someone (Ray Cooper III) who has been well regarded in the PFL on an elite level. Even before you signed with the promotion.

So can you kind of talk about this one finally coming together?

“Yeah, it’s exciting. I mean when I first signed with PFL, I don’t even know how long ago it was but it feels like forever. This fight was always kind of in the back of my mind. My first time watching PFL live, Ray won that season. That was a championship final and he won that fight. And ever since then, I had a feeling that we would cross paths at some point in my first season with PFL. And here we are. I’m looking forward to it.”

And just as a quick follow-up if I could because I had spoken to Aung La N Sang and he was talking about the camaraderie at Sanford MMA. In terms of there being almost like a Bible study. People talking about their problems and things of that nature; a level of catharsis.

Is that something you’re a part of at all with Sanford and if you are can you kind of expand upon that a little bit?

“Yeah, they have a Bible study every Monday. Nate Marquardt is a pastor, and he does a Bible study group. I haven’t been to it, but Aung has invited me. So at some point, I’m sure I’ll walk in there and take part in what they’re doing.”

Dylan Bowker

I've been enamored with combat sports for as long as I can remember. I've hosted MMA talk shows Lights Out and Pure Fight Radio with featured guests like Jens Pulver, Roy Nelson, Miesha Tate, Mark Coleman, and more. I've been an MMA broadcaster for XFFC as well as BTC and have done play by play commentary on live pay per view on GFL as well as FITE TV. I've provided written, audio, and video content covering some of the biggest MMA promotions like Rumble in the Cage, Unified MMA, and King of the Cage. I've worked as a sports entertainment personality for over five years and given play-by-play or featured promotions of KSW, ONE Championship, TKO, and Invicta FC. My work can be found in the USA Today Sports affiliate MMA Torch, Cageside Press, MMA Sucka, and Liberty Multimedia.

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