Former UFC star Derek Brunson has joined the PFL and is set to fight two-time PFL champion Ray Cooper III in a middleweight bout in Washington D.C.; this will be Brunson’s first fight after signing a multi-fight deal with the PFL.
Derek Brunson, a UFC veteran, has found a new home in the Professional Fighters League (PFL) and has already scheduled his first fight. Brunson is set to face two-time PFL champion Ray Cooper III in a middleweight bout. This highly anticipated match-up is slated for the upcoming finale card on November 24 in Washington D.C.
Brunson, who spent over a decade in the UFC, was recently released from the promotion. However, he quickly inked a new multi-fight contract with the PFL. While Brunson is expected to contend in the PFL’s 2024 light heavyweight season-long tournament, he will be staying in his familiar territory of 185 pounds for his PFL debut. Throughout his UFC career, Brunson was a consistent threat in the middleweight division, scoring notable victories against Darren Till, Kevin Holland and Edmen Shahbazyan. His aim is to bring this competitive edge to the PFL, his first test being against Cooper.
Ray Cooper has been an integral part of the PFL for half a decade, earning the championship title twice in the welterweight category. Despite his successes, Cooper faced challenges making the welterweight limit, leading him to switch to the middleweight category. He boasts an impressive record, with wins against Rory MacDonald and knockouts of Jake Shields and current UFC middleweight contender Chris Curtis. The PFL finale card featuring Brunson vs. Cooper will also include championship fights in six divisions and the return of Kayla Harrison against former Bellator champion Julia Budd.