Ray Cooper III

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Raynald “Ray” Cooper III, nicknamed Bradda Boy, is an American mixed martial artist from Pearl City, Hawaii. Born February 7, 1993, he fights out of Hawaii and has competed mainly in the welterweight division before moving to middleweight in 2023. He is 5 ft 7 in tall, has a 70-inch reach, and fights with an orthodox stance. Cooper trains with the 808 Fight Team and the Lion of Judah, and he has been active in MMA since 2011.

Cooper turned professional in 2012 after a strong wrestling background in Hawaii. He wrestled since age six, won multiple state titles, and came from a wrestling-rich family. He chose MMA over college and trained with his father, Ray Cooper Jr., and uncles Ronald Jhun and David Pa’aluhi. He built up a solid record in smaller promotions before signing with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).

In the PFL, Cooper is best known for winning the Welterweight Tournament twice, in 2019 and 2021, earning $1 million each time. He made a notable run in 2018, including a victory over Jake Shields, but lost the 2018 Welterweight final to Magomed Magomedkerimov. He defeated David Michaud in the 2019 final to claim his first PFL title, and then knocked out Magomedkerimov in the 2021 final to win his second Welterweight championship and another $1 million prize.

Cooper’s career has included weight-class changes and some setbacks. He missed weight in 2022 and faced penalties and a suspension of playoff points in a related bout. In 2023, he debuted at middleweight against Derek Brunson but missed weight again, resulting in a catchweight bout and a loss by decision. In 2024, he fought at a 182-pound catchweight in a PFL vs. Bellator event against Jason Jackson and lost by TKO, and later that year he lost a split decision to Mukhamed Berkhamov.

Off the mat, Cooper comes from a large wrestling family. He has four younger brothers—Bronson, Blake, Baylen, and Makoa—and a younger sister, Makana. Wrestling success runs in the family; Blake and Baylen were NAIA national champions and All-Americans, and his wife Kelly was a high school wrestling champion. Ray and Kelly have five children, including twins.

Overall, Ray Cooper III is a notable figure in MMA for his two-time PFL Welterweight titles, his impactful early career in Hawaii, and his ongoing competition in the middleweight division.