Gautier looks to extend unbeaten UFC record against Kopylov at UFC 332

Ateba Gautier will put his unbeaten UFC record on the line against Roman Kopylov on Saturday night at UFC 332, stepping in against one of the more experienced fighters he has faced to date.

The matchup brings a clear physical contrast. Gautier stands six-foot-four with an 81-inch reach, while Kopylov is six feet tall with a 75-inch reach. That gives the younger man a four-inch height advantage and a six-inch edge in reach.

Gautier, nicknamed "The Silent Assassin," is 24 years old and carries an 11-1 record into the bout. He fights out of a switch stance and lands 4.44 significant strikes per minute at 48 percent accuracy. Takedowns have not been a major part of his game, averaging 0.49 per 15 minutes, and he has not recorded a submission attempt.

Kopylov, a 34-year-old Russian who trains with Raty Team, enters with a 15-5 record. The southpaw lands 4.59 significant strikes per minute at 50 percent accuracy, numbers that closely mirror those of his opponent. He is the more active wrestler of the two, averaging 1.14 takedowns per 15 minutes, though he also has no submission attempts on his ledger.

Why it matters

• Gautier has the chance to extend his unbeaten run in the UFC against a seasoned veteran with 20 professional fights.
• The two fighters land strikes at nearly identical rates, so the length advantage for Gautier and the southpaw stance for Kopylov could shape the exchanges.
• The ten-year age gap pits a young, rangy fighter against an experienced opponent who has shown more willingness to look for takedowns.

Kopylov's experience and slightly higher accuracy make this a meaningful test of how Gautier handles a different look, particularly a left-handed opponent who is giving up significant size.