After coming up just short last year, Ray Cooper III fought a calculated fight against David Michaud in the PFL Championship 2019 — seizing the opportunity to finish when it presented itself.
The welterweight finale for the PFL’s 2019 season featured fan-favorite Ray Cooper III taking on comeback success story David Michaud. A UFC fighter from 2014 to 2015, Michaud had done stints in both Legacy and Bellator, before seemingly hitting his stride in the PFL. However, at the PFL Championship 2019, the always dangerous Hawaiian Cooper stood in his way.
The going thinking was that Cooper vs. Michaud was destined to be a quick one. Both men held knockout power in their hands. Early on, however, it was Ray Cooper III hunting for a takedown. Michaud fought off multiple attempts, but a sneaky trip by Cooper sent Michaud down. Cooper got on top, landing punches and elbows on a clearly pained David Michaud. The trip attempt appeared to have come with a knee to the liver, and soon he was on his back, Cooper looking for an arm-triangle choke. Michaud was able to avoid that, but Cooper was in control a good chunk of the round.
The second saw Michaud apparently recovered. Cooper again looked to utilize his wrestling. But when a takedown attempt failed, Michaud went on the attack, landing punches, elbows, and knees in the clinch. Cooper needed to bail out, going back to a takedown attempt and landing it. Cooper would use that time to recover, and then go on the attack, landing a body shot that hurt Michaud. Cooper then unloaded with more punches, and that was the end — Michaud was clearly pained from the body shot and unable to defend himself!
Ray Cooper III, who went all the way to the finals in 2018 only to come up short, made the most of his second chance, earning the championship and million dollars on New Year’s Eve 2019!
Official Result: Ray Cooper III def. David Michaud by TKO, Round 2, 2:56
