WATCH: Son Avenges Father's MMA Loss To Longtime Rival 14 Years Later

Grudge matches are quite commonplace in the sport of mixed martial arts (MMA).

Whether it be between two rivals, former teammates, or even simply two people who just don’t like each other, the backstory behind a grudge match gives a fight a bit of color.

In 2018, the Professional Fighters League (PFL), an MMA promotion based in the United States, was the site of a different kind of grudge match.

Hawaiian welterweight Ray Cooper III faced off against former Strikeforce champion and UFC veteran Jake Shields.

The interesting part is that 14 years earlier, Shields had submitted Cooper’s father, Ray Cooper Jr.

Shields and the elder Cooper had themselves a bit of a rivalry earlier in their MMA careers. In 2002, both men first crossed paths, with the latter taking a majority decision victory.

Two years later, the two would meet again, this time for the Shooto welterweight championship. Shields would get some retribution by submitting Cooper Jr. with a rear-naked choke in the first round.

Cooper Jr. would fight four more times before finally retiring in 2008 with a 14-9 professional record. Four years later, his son would follow in his footsteps and embark on an MMA career of his own.

Cooper III would build an impressive resume in regional promotions before signing with PFL in 2018. As fate would have it, he would end up facing Shields in his first fight in the organization.

Cooper III would go on to dominate Shields, winning by second-round TKO and avenging his father’s submission loss 14 years prior.

Fittingly enough, Cooper III and Shields would have their own little two-fight series as well. The two would meet once again, this time in the quarter-finals of the 2018 PFL Welterweight Tournament, with the winner moving one step closer to the inaugural PFL welterweight championship and a million-dollar grand prize.

Unfortunately for Shields, there would be no retribution on his part this time around as Cooper III got the job done via first-round stoppage.