Roman Kopylov

Roman Kopylov (born 4 May 1991) is a Russian mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Roman Kopylov
Роман Копылов
BornРоман Копылов
(1991-05-04) 4 May 1991
Schebzavod, Belovsky District, Kemerovo Oblast, Soviet Union
NationalityRussian
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight185 lb (84 kg; 13 st 3 lb)
DivisionLight Heavyweight
Middleweight
Reach75.0 in (191 cm)[1]
StanceSouthpaw
Fighting out ofNovosibirsk, Russia
TeamRatiborets
Years active2016–present
Mixed martial arts record
Total14
Wins12
By knockout11
By decision1
Losses2
By submission1
By decision1
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

Roman Kopylov was born in Shchebzavod, a small village in the Kemerovo region of Russia, and began his journey in martial arts at the age of 9. His parents, both former athletes, nurtured his passion for hand-to-hand combat. Gradually, Kopylov started winning trophies at various levels, from city to regional and higher-level competitions starting in 2010. He served in the National Guard of the Siberian District where he continued to compete in martial arts. After graduating from a branch of Kemerovo State University in 2014, he ventured into mixed martial arts.[2]

Kopylov is a five-time world champion in hand-to-hand combat sambo, and has also won several European and Russian championships.[3] He has earned degrees in economics and physical education from Kemerovo State University and Novokuznetsk Institute. His MMA idol is Fedor Emelianenko.[4]

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Roman Kopylov began his MMA career in Ufa in April 2016 at the WCSA tournament. His first fight was against Filipe Aiyugono from Guinea. Despite it being his debut, Roman managed to win by unanimous decision after fighting all the rounds. Later in 2016, Roman fought in the League S-70 ring and knocked out a foreign opponent. He maintained careers in both MMA and RB and demonstrated an unmatched level of skill.[2]

By the end of 2016, Roman fought Islam Gugov in the DIA, before signing a contract with Fight Nights Global. He defeated Artem Shokalo and Jacob Ortiz, then returned to League S-70 for another victory. He then fought for the Fight Nights Middleweight Championship against Abusupyan Alikhanov, who had a streak of 9 victories. Roman increased his pace round by round, and his opponent's corner gave up after the 4th round.[2]

By the end of 2018, Roman won a title fight against the legendary Yasubei Enomoto in a joint tournament between Fight Nights and GTC. Despite Enomoto's impressive track record and experience, Roman's pressure proved too much, and Enomoto lost in the 4th round after a heavy hit to the body.[2]

Following this victory, Roman's manager, Alexander Skaredin, started organizing a fight with Magomed Ismailov, but the plans were postponed indefinitely when Magomed left Fight Nights to join ASA.[2][3]

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Later, Kopylov was offered a contract for 4 fights by UFC matchmakers. He was scheduled to fight Krzysztof Jotko in St. Petersburg on April 20, 2019 at UFC Fight Night 149.[5] However, Kopylov pulled out of the bout on March 22 citing injury.[6]

Kopylov made his UFC debut against Karl Roberson on 9 November 2019 at UFC Fight Night 163.[7] He lost the fight via a submission in round three, his first MMA loss.[8]

Kopylov was scheduled to replace Punahele Soriano against Eric Spicely at UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Rozenstruik on 28 March 2020.[9] However, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving the bout was scrapped.[10]

His next opportunity was against Tom Breese in Abu Dhabi on 4 October 2020 at UFC on ESPN: Holm vs. Aldana.[11] However, Kopylov was removed from the bout as both he and his coach tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival and had to isolate for 3 weeks.[12]

Kopylov was then scheduled to face Sam Alvey on 31 July 2021, at UFC on ESPN 28.[13] However, Kopylov wasn't able to obtain his US visa in time and the bout was scrapped.[14]

Kopylov faced Albert Duraev on 30 October 2021 at UFC 267. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.[15]

Kopylov was scheduled to face Jordan Wright at UFC Fight Night: Lemos vs. Andrade on 23 April 2022.[16] However, Kopylov withdrew from the bout and was replaced by Marc-André Barriault.[17]

Kopylov faced Alessio Di Chirico on 3 September 2022 at UFC Fight Night 209.[18] He won the fight via knockout in round three.[19]

Kopylov faced Punahele Soriano on 14 January 2023 at UFC Fight Night 217.[20] He won the fight via technical knockout after knocking down Soriano with a body kick in the second round.[21] This win earned him the Performance of the Night bonus.[22]

Kopylov was scheduled to face Josh Fremd on 17 June 2023 at UFC on ESPN 47.[23] However, the bout never materialized and Kopylov took on Claudio Ribeiro at UFC 291 on 29 July 2023.[24] Kopylov won the bout via head kick knockout in round two.[25]

Kopylov was scheduled to face Anthony Hernandez, replacing Chris Curtis on September 16, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 227. However, Curtis withdrew due to a rib injury and was replaced by Roman Kopylov.[26] However, Hernandez pulled out of the bout due to a torn ligament and was replaced by Josh Fremd.[27] Kopylov won the fight via body punch knockout in round two.[28] This win earned him the Performance of the Night award.[29]

Championships and accomplishments

Mixed martial arts

Mixed martial arts record
Professional record breakdown
14 matches 12 wins 2 losses
By knockout 11 0
By submission 0 1
By decision 1 1
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Win 12–2 Josh Fremd KO (punch to the body) UFC Fight Night: Grasso vs. Shevchenko 2 September 16, 2023 2 4:44 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 11–2 Claudio Ribeiro KO (head kick) UFC 291 July 29, 2023 2 0:33 Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Win 10–2 Punahele Soriano TKO (body kick and punches) UFC Fight Night: Strickland vs. Imavov January 14, 2023 2 3:19 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Performance of the Night.
Win 9–2 Alessio Di Chirico KO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Tuivasa September 3, 2022 3 1:09 Paris, France
Loss 8–2 Albert Duraev Decision (unanimous) UFC 267 October 30, 2021 3 5:00 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Loss 8–1 Karl Roberson Submission (rear-naked choke) UFC Fight Night: Magomedsharipov vs. Kattar November 9, 2019 3 4:01 Moscow, Russia Kopylov was deducted a point in round 3 due to an accidental eye poke.
Win 8–0 Yasubey Enomoto KO (punch to the body) Fight Nights Global 91 December 27, 2018 4 3:39 Moscow, Russia Defended the FNG Middleweight Championship.
Win 7–0 Abusupyan Alikhanov TKO (corner stoppage) Fight Nights Global 85 March 30, 2018 4 5:00 Moscow, Russia Won the FNG Middleweight Championship.
Win 6–0 Luiz Gustavo Dutra KO (punch) S-70: Plotforma Cup 2017 August 8, 2017 1 3:15 Sochi, Russia
Win 5–0 Kobe Ortiz TKO (corner stoppage) Fight Nights Global 69 June 30, 2017 2 5:00 Novosibirsk, Russia
Win 4–0 Artem Shokalo TKO (punches) Fight Nights Global 59 February 23, 2017 3 4:11 Khimki, Russia Return to Middleweight.
Win 3–0 Islam Gugov KO (spinning back kick to the body) ACB 49 November 26, 2016 2 3:57 Rostov-on-Don, Russia Catchweight (190 lb) bout.
Win 2–0 José Santos KO (punch) S-70: Plotforma Cup 2016 August 21, 2016 3 4:52 Sochi, Russia Light Heavyweight debut.
Win 1–0 Felipe Nsue Decision (unanimous) WCSA Combat Ring 18 April 1, 2016 3 5:00 Ufa, Russia Middleweight debut. Won the WCSA Middleweight Championship.

[30]

See also

References
  1. "Stats | UFC". ufcstats.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  2. "Роман Копылов (Roman Kopylov): биография и лучшие бои средневеса UFC - MMAExpress". mma.express. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  3. Fiedel, Michael (23 February 2019). "Undefeated Russian star Roman Kopylov signs with UFC". The Body Lock. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  4. Knapp, Brian (31 August 2022). "5 Things You Might Not Know About Roman Kopylov". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  5. Dorff, Marcel (24 February 2019). "FNG Kampioen Roman Kopylov maakt UFC debuut tegen Krzysztof Jotko in St.Petersburg" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  6. Marcel Dorff (2019-03-22). "Roman Kopylov out, Alen Amedovski against Kryzysztof Jotko during UFC St.Petersburg" (in Dutch). mmadna.nl. Retrieved 2019-03-22.
  7. Cole Shelton (9 September 2019). "Karl Roberson vs. Roman Kopylov booked for UFC Fight Night 163 in Moscow". Sherdog.com. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  8. Evanoff, Josh (9 November 2019). "UFC Moscow Results: Karl Roberson Submits Roman Kopylov". Cageside Press. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  9. Marcel Dorff (February 21, 2020). "Roman Kopylov pakt short notice gevecht tegen Eric Spicely tijdens UFC Columbus" (in Dutch).
  10. Nolan King and John Morgan (2020-03-15). "UFC postpones three events amid growing coronavirus outbreak". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  11. MMA DNA (2020-08-28). "Tom Breese vs. Roman Kopylov toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 3 oktober". MMA DNA. Retrieved 2020-08-29.
  12. "Edmonton's K.B. Bhullar to make UFC debut on Fight Island in October - Sportsnet.ca". www.sportsnet.ca. Retrieved 2020-09-29.
  13. Dorff, Marcel (2021-07-17). "Sam Alvey vs. Roman Kopylov toegevoegd aan UFC evenement op 31 juli". MMA DNA (in Dutch). Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  14. Martin, Damon (2021-07-26). "Sam Alvey vs. Roman Kopylov co-main event scrapped from UFC Vegas 33 card on Saturday". MMA Fighting. Retrieved 2021-07-27.
  15. Evanoff, Josh (30 October 2021). "UFC 267 Results: Albert Duraev Outworks Roman Kopylov". Cageside Press. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  16. Jay Anderson (April 7, 2022). "Wright vs. Kopylov, Prachnio vs. Lins Among UFC Vegas 52 Additions". cagesidepress.com.
  17. "Canadian Marc-Andre Barriault steps in on short notice to fight on UFC card". tsn.ca. 2022-04-14. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
  18. "Alessio di Chirico vs. Roman Kopylov added to UFC Paris". mymmanews DNA. June 2022. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  19. Law, Eddie (3 September 2022). "UFC Paris: Roman Kopylov Finishes Di Chirico With Combo In Round 3". Cageside Press. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  20. King, Nolan (21 November 2022). "Matchup Roundup: New UFC and Bellator fights announced in the past week (Nov. 14-20)". MMA Junkie. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  21. Val Dewar (14 January 2023). "UFC Vegas 67: Roman Kopylov Harnesses Body Shots to TKO Punahele Soriano". Cageside Press. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  22. Matt Erickson (2023-01-14). "UFC Fight Night 217 bonuses: Dan Ige's nickname prophetic for extra $50,000". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
  23. "New title fight, 21 UFC bouts announced - Fights on Tap". Bloody Elbow. 2023-05-08. Retrieved 2023-05-20.
  24. Tristen Critchfield (May 31, 2023). "Two Bouts Added to UFC 291 Lineup on July 29". Sherdog.
  25. Dewar, Val (2023-07-29). "UFC 291: Roman Kopylov Head Kick KO's Claudio Ribeiro After Crazy End to First Round". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-08-04.
  26. Alexander K. Lee (2023-08-15). "Roman Kopylov replaces Chris Curtis, fights Anthony Hernandez at Noche UFC". mmafighting.com. Retrieved 2023-08-15.
  27. With Anthony Hernandez out of Noche UFC, Josh Fremd steps in to fight Roman Kopylov (2023-08-23). "With Anthony Hernandez out of Noche UFC, Josh Fremd steps in to fight Roman Kopylov". mmajunkie.usatoday.com. Retrieved 2023-08-23.
  28. Theodosi, Jamie (2023-09-16). "Noche UFC: Roman Kopylov Body Shots Shut Down Josh Fremd". Cageside Press. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  29. "Noche UFC bonuses: $50K jackpot for all finishers in Las Vegas". MMA Junkie. 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2023-09-17.
  30. Sherdog.com. "Roman Kopylov". Sherdog. Archived from the original on 22 January 2023. Retrieved 22 January 2023.
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