Roman Kopylov earned a unanimous decision victory over Marco Tulio at UFC 328, with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28 in his favor. The win improves Kopylov's UFC record to 7-5. Kopylov scored multiple knockdowns during the fight but was unable to secure a finish despite having his opponent hurt. The Russian fighter had a inconsistent performance, absorbing significant damage and losing several exchanges while also landing some powerful attacks. The victory was crucial for Kopylov as another loss would have been his third consecutive defeat, potentially putting his UFC roster spot in jeopardy.
Roman Kopylov survived a turbulent three rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory over Marco Tulio at UFC 328 on May 9, with all three judges scoring the middleweight bout 29-28 in the Russian's favor.
Kopylov, now 15-5-0 overall, entered the fight under real pressure. The 34-year-old southpaw from Russia, ranked 14th in the middleweight division, had been on the wrong side of back-to-back losses and knew a third straight defeat could have cost him his place on the UFC roster. Fighting out of Raty Team, Kopylov stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach and averages 4.59 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy. He found success in spots, scoring multiple knockdowns, but could not convert his best opportunities into a finish.
Marco Tulio made it an uncomfortable night for his opponent. The 32-year-old Brazilian, nicknamed "Matuto," fights out of the renowned Chute Boxe Diego Lima camp and came in with a 14-3-0 record. Also standing at six feet with a 74-inch reach, Tulio is one of the division's more active strikers, landing 6.69 significant strikes per minute at an impressive 58 percent accuracy. He also averages 1.42 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a well-rounded threat profile. Tulio made Kopylov pay in several exchanges throughout the fight, inflicting significant damage despite ultimately falling short on the scorecards.
Why it matters
- Kopylov avoids a third consecutive loss and keeps his UFC middleweight roster spot intact
- The narrow 29-28 scores across all three judges reflect how competitive and chaotic the bout was
- Tulio's high striking output and takedown rate make him a difficult opponent for anyone in the division; this close loss does little to damage his standing
- Kopylov's inability to finish a hurt opponent despite multiple knockdowns points to a recurring pattern he will need to address
Saturday, May 9, 2026
