Born in Siberia, Kopylov’s fascination with combat sports started early. Later in his life, he’d start Kemerovo State University en-route to his economics degree before heading to the Novokuznetsk Institute and majoring in physical education. Roman Kopylov is a graduate with athletic achievements that include attaining the designation of Master of Sport in hand-to-hand combat.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Kopylov started his professional career in MMA in 2016, but in no time, he secured a name among the best with his successive knockout wins. This early success of his was crowned with the winning of FNG Middleweight Championship after a fourth-round corner stoppage against Abusupyan Alikhanov back in March 2018. Later that year, he defended the title against Yasubey Enomoto, furthering his reputation as a formidable striker.
Transition to the UFC
In 2019, Kopylov signed a four-fight contract with the UFC and took a significant jump in his career. He made his promotional debut against Karl Roberson at UFC Fight Night 163 in Moscow. Although he put up an exciting fight, Kopylov did indeed suffer his first professional loss via third-round submission. Since then, he has continued competing against high-level opponents, taking on challenges such as Albert Duraev at UFC 267, where he lost via unanimous decision.
Resurgence and Winning Streak
After some initial setbacks, Kopylov came back resilient and started to improve in fights. In this month’s UFC Fight Night 209 in Paris, he stopped Alessio Di Chirico with a third-round knockout to pick up his first UFC win in September 2022 and sparked a decent winning streak. He extended his streak of victories with a head-kick knockout against Claudio Ribeiro at UFC 291 in July 2023 and a body-shot knockout of Josh Fremd at Noche UFC in September 2023.
Recent Fights and Future Prospects
Kopylov, in February 2024, then faced Anthony Hernandez at UFC 298. Despite the competitive bout, he lost via second-round submission. He got back to winning ways with a split decision win over César Almeida at UFC 302 in June 2024. A bout against Brunno Ferreira in August 2024 was scrapped due to Kopylov having to undergo appendicitis surgery. Next up, Kopylov faces Chris Curtis at UFC Fight Night 249 on January 11, 2025. It will be a good opportunity for Kopylov to find his place in the Middleweight division and probably break into the Top 15 ranking.
Fighting Style and Strengths
Kopylov is known for his speed, precision, and powerful kicks. He was able to knock out several opponents with devastating body shots and head kicks. He is still training under his coach Rasul Magomedaliev in the Universal Fighter club, improving his skills further and making him dangerous for every opponent in his division.
Fan Engagement and Media Presence
Aside from the action within the octagon, Kopylov has been in the news for a variety of media appearances and interviews.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Roman Kopylov’s professional MMA record?
As of December 2024, Kopylov holds a professional MMA record of 13 wins and 3 losses.
What are some of the most notable victories of Roman Kopylov?
Notable wins include knockout victories over Alessio Di Chirico, Punahele Soriano, Claudio Ribeiro, and Josh Fremd.
When will Roman Kopylov have his next fight date?
Kopylov will face Chris Curtis at UFC Fight Night 249 on January 11, 2025. What style does Roman Kopylov fight? Kopylov is known for his striking game, especially in speed, precision, and strong kicks.
Does Roman Kopylov earn any performance bonus from the UFC?
Yes, the Performance of the Night bonus for defeating Punahele Soriano in January 2023.
