Roman Kopylov defeated Marco Tulio via unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28 at UFC 328. Kopylov's UFC record now stands at 7-5. The analyst expressed disappointment that Kopylov did not finish Tulio after scoring knockdowns, questioning why he chose to grapple instead of pursuing the finish. The fight followed a familiar pattern for Kopylov of inconsistent performances with many absorbed strikes and lost exchanges, mixed with several high-quality offensive moments. Despite possessing power, excellent kicks that are fast and deceptive, and strong feinting ability, Kopylov continues struggling to dominate fights completely from start to finish, similar to his previous bouts against Curtis and Robocop.
Roman Kopylov picked up a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Marco Tulio at UFC 328 on May 9, with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28 in the Russian's favor.
Kopylov, now 34 years old and fighting out of Raty Team, improves to 15-5-0 overall with the win, pushing his UFC record to 7-5. The Russian middleweight holds the number 14 ranking in the division and stands six feet tall with a 75-inch reach. Fighting out of a southpaw stance, he lands 4.59 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, and his arsenal is built around fast, deceptive kicks and strong feinting ability that can trouble any opponent at this level.
Tulio, nicknamed Matuto, falls to 14-3-0 after the loss. The 32-year-old Brazilian trains with Chute Boxe Diego Lima and enters every fight as a genuine offensive threat, posting an impressive 6.69 significant strikes landed per minute at 58 percent accuracy — numbers that place him among the busier and more precise strikers in the middleweight division. He also adds 1.42 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a versatile toolkit inside the octagon.
Why it matters
- Kopylov's seventh UFC win keeps him relevant in a crowded middleweight rankings picture, though his position at 14th suggests he needs cleaner performances to climb.
- Analysts questioned his decision to grapple rather than pursue the finish after scoring knockdowns on Tulio, a pattern consistent with previous outings against Curtis and Robocop.
- The inconsistency on display — strong offensive moments undercut by absorbed strikes and lost exchanges — remains the central obstacle standing between Kopylov and a serious divisional run.
- Tulio's high strike output and respectable takedown rate means the Brazilian should remain a dangerous option for contenders looking to build momentum in the middleweight division.
Saturday, May 9, 2026
