Roman Kopylev secured a unanimous decision victory over Marco Tulio with scores of 29-28, 29-28, 29-28, bringing his UFC record to 7-5. Despite scoring knockdowns on the Brazilian fighter, Kopylev failed to secure a finish and instead engaged in grappling exchanges. The fight followed Kopylev's recent pattern of inconsistent performances, with many exchanges lost despite landing several high-quality attacks. Kopylev demonstrated strong kicking ability with fast, well-disguised strikes and solid punching power, but struggled to dominate throughout the entire fight. The victory continues a trend of competitive but uneven performances similar to his previous bouts against Curtis and other opponents.
Roman Kopylev earned a unanimous decision win over Marco Tulio at UFC 328 on May 9, 2026, with all three judges scoring the bout 29-28 in his favor.
Kopylev's victory pushed his UFC record to 7-5, a mark that reflects both his capacity for highlight-reel moments and his tendency toward uneven performances over full fight durations. The win continued a pattern seen in his previous bouts, where he produces high-quality individual attacks — including knockdowns in this contest — but struggles to impose consistent control. His fast, well-disguised kicks and punching power were on display throughout, yet he opted for grappling exchanges at key moments rather than pressing for a finish.
Tulio, known by the nickname "Matuto," entered the fight with a 14-3 professional record and represents Chute Boxe Diego Lima out of Brazil. The 32-year-old orthodox striker brings an aggressive output to the cage, averaging 6.69 significant strikes landed per minute with a striking accuracy of 58 percent — figures that make him a dangerous volume puncher. He also averages 1.42 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a functional ground game to complement his standup. Despite those tools, he was unable to overcome Kopylev's power and found himself knocked down during the bout.
Why it matters
- Kopylev moves to 7-5 in the UFC, but his inconsistency keeps him short of contender territory
- Tulio suffers his fourth professional loss, halting momentum for the Brazilian prospect
- The knockdowns in a decision outcome underline the finishing issues that have defined Kopylev's recent run
- A style matchup featuring heavy striking from both men ultimately came down to a razor-thin margin on all three scorecards
Saturday, May 9, 2026
