Ray Cooper: Rory MacDonald 'doesn't give me any threats anywhere'

Ray Cooper III doesn’t necessarily see Rory MacDonald as the sternest test of his career.

Reigning PFL welterweight champion Cooper (22–7–1) meets former Bellator champ MacDonald (22–7–1) in the 2021 PFL Playoffs semifinals on Aug. 13 in one of the most highly anticipated fights this season.

But despite MacDonald’s accolades, Cooper isn’t intimidated and is confident he beats him everywhere.

“He doesn’t give me any threats anywhere,” Cooper told MMA Junkie Radio. “I think I have the superior wrestling, so I can dictate wherever the fight goes. I don’t know if he’s gonna try and take me down and want to wrestle because he’s gonna be running the whole time, so I ain’t changing anything for anybody, especially Rory MacDonald.”

Cooper said he’s motivated to avenge fellow Hawaiian B.J. Penn’s loss to MacDonald in their 2012 meeting at UFC on FOX 5. Cooper thinks the former UFC title challenger has received a lot of attention since signing with PFL and wasn’t too enthralled with his past loss to Gleison Tibau, despite the controversy surrounding the decision.

“I think he’s overlooking me, and he thinks he’s gonna outwrestle me and do what he wants just because he’s had so much experience,” Cooper said. “He’s fought a lot of good, top guys. He beat a lot of guys and yeah, it’s just the way he came into the PFL, and I guess him getting all this attention. They forgot that he lost his last fight, and he didn’t look that impressive to me. I don’t have any hate towards anybody. This is a sport, this is a competition and when it’s time to fight, it’s time to fight. I don’t take no feelings towards my opponent trying to be my friend. You ain’t my friend. When we get in there, I’m gonna try to take your head off”