PFL vs Bellator: Cooper vs Jackson Best Bets and Prediction
One of the bigger fights on this weekend’s PFL vs. Bellator PPV card will be this catchweight (182 lbs) bout between two-time PFL champion Ray Cooper III and Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson. Cooper is stepping up on short notice after Magomed Magomedkerimov pulled out due to injury.
Cooper vs Jackson Picks
- Pick: Over 2.5
Cooper vs. Jackson Information
Ray Cooper III vs Jason Jackson
Location of the fight: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Date & Time: February 24, 2024.3 PM ET card start
How to Watch: ESPN+ PPV / DAZN PPV
Last Fight Record
Cooper is coming off a decision loss to former UFC middleweight contender Derek Brunson in November.
Jackson is coming off winning the Bellator welterweight title by third-round KO over Yaroslav Amosov in November.
Ray Cooper III vs Jason Jackson Betting Analysis
Ray Cooper III
Cooper is an American mixed martial artist with a professional MMA record of 25-9-1, including 16 TKO/KO victories and 7 submissions. He most recently competed in the middleweight division in the PFL, but he has earned two welterweight championships in the organization. He also has the record for fasted knockout in PFL history (0:18).
Cooper stands at just 5’7” with a 70” reach. He started to have serious trouble making the welterweight limit, even cutting his long hair to reach it in his last title fight.
Jason Jackson
Jackson is a Jamaican MMA fighter with a professional record of 17-4, including 5 TKO/KO wins and 3 submission wins under his belt. The experienced fighter has collected championship belts in four different organizations–VFC, LFA, Titan FC, and now Bellator. He also was a contestant on The Ultimate Fighter. Jackson held the #2 pound-for-pound ranking in Bellator MMA at the end of 2023. At 33 years old, he boasts a 78″ reach as an orthodox fighter standing at 6’1″.
Updates
The PFL, ESPN, or DAZN haven’t reported any injuries.
Ray Cooper III vs Jason Jackson Betting Preview
You can’t make the Cooper vs Jackson prediction until we preview the odds for these MMA fights tonight, along with studying the tape on both of these championship-level fighters with two completely different styles.
Starting with the available PFL odds, Jackson is coming in as a big -650 betting favorite over the +475 two-time PFL champion. This is an interesting line because Cooper has the power to knock anybody out with one clean punch landing. The over 2.5 round total is favored at -150 and the fight is favored to go the distance at -130 according to BetUS.
If we look at the styles of both fighters, they are very different athletes. Cooper is an undersized middleweight who might have some struggles with cardio against high-pressure opponents, and Jackson is an elite athlete with long limbs and always seems to be in great shape.
Cooper is a short and stocky brawler with tons of power. He has tree trunks for legs and can take kicks well, but doesn’t use them offensively as much as he really should. He likes to put pressure on his opponents and make them back up against the fence, which he then unloads with heavy power hooks.
Jackson has turned into a very good all-around fighter from his vast experience against a lot of great fighters with different styles. He looked great in his last performance for the title, using crisp boxing combinations and counterpunches, along with the threat of wrestling and using kicks from a distance.
Ray Cooper III vs Jason Jackson Best Bets and Prediction
PFL predictions for a fight like his can be tough. The odds are very one-sided, but the power and determination of Cooper forces you not to count him out of any fight.
With that being said, the official Cooper vs Jackson prediction is that Jackson will get the job done and his hand raised in Saudi Arabia. He’s too good all-around to bet against and hope for the big KO punch to land.
The way Cooper comes forward and is so low to the ground, Jackson will be able to find some slick counter shots and uppercuts that will rock Cooper. Making a bet on over 2.5 rounds offers better odds. Cooper might get pieced up, but he’s very durable and isn’t afraid to wrestle when he feels the trouble.
- Pick: Over 2.5.
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