Roman Kopylov pulled out a difficult victory against Marco Tulio, potentially saving himself from being cut by the UFC. Had he lost, it would have been his third consecutive defeat. Kopylov was losing the first round and a half but then began dropping Tulio repeatedly, scoring three knockdowns to bring his UFC total to nine knockdowns. The post expresses that despite Kopylov's speed, technique, powerful striking with hands and legs, and extensive amateur background, he could be performing at a higher level in the UFC. His 6-5 record is considered below his potential, though the author praises him for returning to winning form.
Roman Kopylov kept his UFC career alive at UFC 328 on May 9, grinding out a hard-fought victory over Brazil's Marco Tulio in a middleweight bout that looked like it could go either way through the early rounds.
Kopylov, ranked 14th in the middleweight division, entered the fight with his back firmly against the wall. The 34-year-old Russian southpaw carried a 15-5 record into the night, and a loss would have handed him a third straight defeat — a sequence that rarely goes unpunished on the UFC roster. Standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, Kopylov lands 4.59 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, and his knockout power has always been the calling card that keeps him relevant at this level. He now counts nine UFC knockdowns to his name after delivering three in this contest alone, a remarkable figure that underscores just how dangerous he remains when he finds his range.
Tulio, the 32-year-old Brazilian known as "Matuto" who trains out of Chute Boxe Diego Lima, made Kopylov work for every inch. Carrying a 14-3 record and an impressive striking accuracy of 58 percent, Tulio lands 6.69 significant strikes per minute and showed enough early aggression to control the opening round and a half. The Chute Boxe product also mixes in 1.42 takedown attempts per 15 minutes, giving him a multi-dimensional threat profile that gave Kopylov genuine problems before the tide turned.
Why it matters
- Kopylov's win likely preserves his UFC contract after what would have been a damaging third straight loss
- At 15-5 with nine UFC knockdowns, Kopylov remains a live threat in the middleweight rankings despite a record considered below his potential
- Tulio drops to 14-3 and may face his own roster pressure after failing to capitalize on a strong start
- The middleweight division at 14th-and-below remains a competitive proving ground where one win or loss can define a fighter's future
Saturday, May 9, 2026
