Roman Kopylov (7-5 in the UFC) and Ateba Gautier (5-0 in the UFC) are booked to meet on October 4 at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City. Kopylov, a middleweight veteran, will face the undefeated Gautier in what shapes up as a significant test for both fighters.
Roman Kopylov and Ateba Gautier are set to collide at UFC 332 in Salt Lake City on October 3, with the middleweight contest matching a battle-tested veteran against one of the division's rising undefeated prospects.
Kopylov, a 34-year-old Russian southpaw fighting out of Raty Team, carries a 15-5-0 professional record and has gone 7-5 inside the UFC. Standing six feet tall with a 75-inch reach, he has built his reputation as an aggressive striker, landing 4.59 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy. He also supplements his standup with a respectable takedown threat, averaging 1.14 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Gautier, known as "The Silent Assassin," enters the bout at 11-1-0 overall and a perfect 5-0 inside the UFC. At just 24 years old, the switch-stance middleweight presents a significant physical challenge, measuring six-foot-four with an extraordinary 81-inch reach. He lands 4.44 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy, and his size and length figure to be central factors in how this matchup plays out.
Why it matters
- Gautier's undefeated UFC run will face its stiffest test yet against an experienced finisher in Kopylov.
- Kopylov's UFC record of 7-5 means a loss could complicate his standing in the middleweight division, while a win over an undefeated prospect would revitalize his position.
- Both fighters rely heavily on striking output, setting up a potentially explosive standup exchange.
- At 24, Gautier's reach and youth contrast sharply with Kopylov's experience and southpaw angles, creating an intriguing stylistic puzzle.
Saturday, October 3, 2026
