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Former two-time PFL welterweight tournament champion Ray Cooper III is preparing for a new chapter in his fighting career, with the Hawaiian veteran targeting opportunities in Japanese MMA after confirming his ambitions to compete regularly in the country.
Cooper will return to action against Hidenari Saijo at Lemino Shooto 10 on November 8 in Okinawa, Japan. However, the upcoming welterweight contest could represent the beginning of something much bigger for the former PFL champion, who has revealed plans to pursue a Shooto championship and eventually secure an opportunity with RIZIN.
Speaking to Japanese MMA outlet MMAPLANET in an interview published on November 5, Cooper discussed his desire to continue competing in Japan and explained why fighting in Okinawa carries particular significance for him. The 33-year-old also indicated that he is considering a move down to lightweight, although he remains open to accepting welterweight opportunities when they become available.
“I want to fight at lightweight. But if there’s an opportunity like this one, I’ll continue fighting at welterweight as well,” Cooper explained during the interview.
His immediate focus, however, remains on Saijo, whom he has predicted to finish in the opening round.
Why Ray Cooper III Wants to Fight in Japan
Cooper’s decision to pursue opportunities in Japan is connected to both his family’s history and his personal relationship with Okinawa. His younger brother, Makoa Cooper, competed in Okinawa in April 2026, defeating Hidenari Saijo by unanimous decision. Ray III accompanied his brother to Japan and subsequently developed a strong interest in competing on the island himself.
The former PFL champion revealed that his late maternal grandmother had Okinawan ancestry, something that he and his brother only discovered relatively recently. Cooper explained that fighting in Okinawa had become a personal ambition and that he had always wanted to compete in front of Japanese MMA fans.
His family’s connection with Japanese MMA also played an important role in the decision. His father, Ray ‘Bradda’ Cooper, previously competed in Shooto and challenged for its welterweight championship against Jake Shields in 2004.
Ray III grew up watching his father’s involvement in the sport and has now expressed his own desire to establish a connection with the Japanese promotion.
The opportunity eventually emerged when Shooto began looking for an opponent for Saijo. Cooper revealed that he had previously been scheduled to face Jorge Masvidal in a bare-knuckle MMA contest, but an injury prevented the matchup from taking place. With no other promotional commitment in place, he contacted the Japanese promotion and requested the opportunity to compete against Saijo.
Former PFL Champion Looking to Rebuild His Career
Cooper arrives in Japan with an accomplished résumé but has also experienced a difficult period in his recent MMA career. The Hawaiian established himself as one of the most successful welterweights in PFL history, winning the organisation’s tournament championship in 2019 and 2021.
His 2021 campaign was particularly impressive, as he defeated Magomed Magomedkerimov to capture his second tournament championship and another million-dollar prize.
However, his performances during the later stages of his PFL career were less successful. A series of defeats affected his momentum, and Cooper admitted that inadequate preparation and problems with his training environment contributed to some of those performances.
Rather than walking away from MMA, the former champion decided to reassess his approach to fighting. He explained that changes to his diet, conditioning and overall preparation helped him regain confidence and rediscover his motivation.
Cooper also discussed spending more time coaching his children in wrestling, something that has helped him reconnect with the fundamentals of the sport. Despite his recent setbacks, he remains determined to continue competing and believes he still has more to accomplish.
“I still want to be the best I can be,” Cooper indicated during the interview, while also leaving the door open for a potential return to PFL.
His ambitions in Japan therefore do not necessarily represent a permanent departure from other international promotions.
Shooto Championship and RIZIN Among His Future Ambitions
Cooper has identified two major objectives for the next stage of his career: winning a Shooto championship and eventually competing in RIZIN. The former PFL champion is particularly interested in moving down to lightweight, where he believes he could pursue a championship opportunity.
However, these remain personal ambitions rather than confirmed bookings. No Shooto lightweight title fight or RIZIN contract has been announced. A successful performance against Saijo would nevertheless provide an important starting point.
RIZIN represents an attractive destination for Cooper because of its position as one of Japan’s biggest MMA promotions and its history of featuring international fighters. The promotion has also provided opportunities for established competitors from organisations such as the UFC, Bellator and PFL.
Cooper’s experience against high-level international opposition could make him an interesting addition to the Japanese scene if he can produce convincing performances. For now, his immediate priority is demonstrating that he can still compete at a high level following a challenging period in his career.
Ray Cooper III Faces Hidenari Saijo at Lemino Shooto 10
Cooper’s Japanese journey officially begins on November 8 when he takes on Saijo in the welterweight main event of Lemino Shooto 10. The contest will take place at Shabondama Soap Kukuru Itoman in Okinawa and is scheduled for three five-minute rounds.
Saijo will be particularly motivated to secure a victory after losing to Cooper’s younger brother earlier this year. The Japanese fighter will now face another member of the Cooper family, this time against a former two-time PFL tournament champion. Cooper has made his intentions clear, predicting a first-round knockout and expressing confidence in his wrestling defence.
The event also features Yamato Fujita against Juniel Francisco and Mitsuhisa Sunabe against Yo Otake. There has been a late change to the lineup, with Takeru Uchida withdrawing from his scheduled contest against Takumi Arai because of an ankle ligament injury and bone bruising. The promotion has confirmed that no replacement will be brought in.
Makoa Cooper Adds Another Chapter to the Family’s Shooto Connection
While Ray III is preparing for his Japanese debut, his younger brother Makoa is also pursuing an important opportunity with Shooto. Makoa is scheduled to challenge Desauza Marsel for the vacant Shooto world welterweight championship on November 29 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
The five-round contest will determine a new champion following Ryuichiro Sumimura’s retirement.
The Cooper family’s connection with Shooto stretches back several decades through their father, Ray ‘Bradda’ Cooper, who previously competed for the promotion and challenged Jake Shields for its welterweight championship. Makoa now has an opportunity to bring a Shooto championship into the family, while Ray III is looking to establish his own career in Japan.
At 33, Cooper believes he still has plenty to offer in MMA. His upcoming appearance in Okinawa could therefore become an important moment in determining the direction of the next stage of his career.
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