5 Things You Might Not Know About Brett Cooper

Brett Cooper would like nothing more than to bolster his bank account.

“Fudoshin” will take his first swings at a potential $1 million payday in the Professional Fighters League when he kicks off his 2022 campaign against Rory MacDonald in a PFL 3 welterweight feature on Friday at Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Cooper, 34, enters the cage on the heels of back-to-back victories. He last appeared on Aug. 13, when he made a successful promotional debut with a scintillating first-round knockout of Dana White’s Contender Series alum Tyler Hill at 2021 PFL 7.

As Cooper makes final preparations for his forthcoming confrontation with MacDonald at 170 pounds, here are five things you might not know about him:

1. He was not eased into the workforce.

Cooper made his professional mixed martial arts debut at the age of 18 when he buried Cody Culkin with first-round punches at Total Combat 10 on Oct. 15, 2005. He compiled a 4-4 record in eight appearances as a teenager, with losses to Ed Ratcliff, Bryan Joplin, Jesse Romero and Toby Grear.

2. He scaled at least one mountain.

The Los Angeles native laid claim to the vacant Absolute Championship Berkut welterweight crown when he punched out Aslambek Saidov in the third round of their ACB 50 co-main event in December 2016. Cooper held the title for just 244 days. He surrendered it in a knockout defeat to Mukhamed Berkhamov in the ACB 67 headliner the following August.

3. Talent and dependability made him a desirable commodity.

Cooper has competed in eight countries—the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Canada, Poland, England, Russia and Australia—and appeared in 20 different promotions during his 43-fight career, including KSW, Bellator MMA, Jungle Fight, Affliction, Shooto, Gladiator Challenge and the International Fight League.

4. He primes for battle.

The former ACB champion operates out of Team Bodyshop MMA in Lakewood, California, where he has trained alongside onetime Bellator featherweight titleholder A.J. McKee and undefeated welterweight prospect Joey Davis.

5. Audiences blink at their own risk.

Cooper has nine first-round finishes to his credit, which account for nearly a third of his 28 career victories. Included among them: a 10-second knockout of former King of the Cage middleweight champion Keith Barry at a Lords of the Cage event on Nov. 19, 2010.