Roman Kopylov Bio
Roman Yuryevich Kopylov (born 4 May 1991) is a Russian mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Middleweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Standing 6 feet tall with a 75-inch reach, he fights out of a southpaw stance and represents the Ratiborets team out of Bachatsky, Russia. Known for his aggressive striking and finishing power, Kopylov has built a reputation as one of the more dangerous knockout artists in the middleweight class. Since turning professional in 2016, he has compiled a strong record highlighted by multiple Performance of the Night bonuses and a series of dramatic finishes inside the Octagon.
Early Life and Background
Roman Kopylov was born on 4 May 1991 in Shchebzavod, a small village in the Belovsky District of Kemerovo Oblast, in what was then the Russian SFSR of the Soviet Union. He began his journey in martial arts at the age of nine, an early start that shaped the rest of his life. His parents, both former athletes, nurtured his passion for hand-to-hand combat and encouraged his development. Growing up in the Kemerovo region, Kopylov gradually moved from local competitions to higher-level tournaments, steadily building a foundation in combat sports.
Kopylov served in the National Guard of the Siberian District, where he continued to compete in martial arts alongside his military duties. After graduating from a branch of Kemerovo State University in 2014, he earned degrees in economics and physical education, having also studied at the Novokuznetsk Institute. During this formative period, he earned recognition as a five-time world champion in hand-to-hand combat sambo and collected several European and Russian championship titles. He has cited Fedor Emelianenko as his MMA idol, a reflection of the respect he holds for Russian combat sports heritage.
Path to MMA
Kopylov’s transition into mixed martial arts came after years of success in hand-to-hand combat sambo, where his finishing instincts and grappling base were already well established. He began winning trophies at various levels of competition starting in 2010, from city events to regional and national championships. By the time he decided to focus on MMA, he had already established himself as a decorated sambo competitor, giving him a strong platform from which to launch his professional career.
His professional MMA debut came in April 2016 at a WCSA tournament held in Ufa, where he faced Filipe Aiyugono of Guinea. Kopylov won his debut by unanimous decision, showing the patience and cardio that would complement his power game. He continued to balance his growing MMA career with appearances in League S-70 and other regional promotions, demonstrating an unmatched level of skill as he accumulated early wins. That foundation in both sambo and regional MMA prepared him for the larger stages that would follow.
Roman Kopylov Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Roman Kopylov began his professional MMA career in Ufa in April 2016 and quickly established himself as a finisher. His debut win over Filipe Aiyugono by unanimous decision showed composure, but it was his subsequent knockout victories that began to turn heads across the regional circuit. He fought in the League S-70 ring, where he knocked out a foreign opponent, and also competed in the DIA before signing a contract with Fight Nights Global.
At Fight Nights Global, Kopylov defeated Artem Shokalo and Jacob Ortiz before returning to League S-70 for another victory. He then challenged for the Fight Nights Middleweight Championship against Abusupyan Alikhanov, a fighter riding a streak of nine victories. Kopylov increased his pace round by round until Alikhanov’s corner stopped the bout after the fourth round, handing Kopylov the title. He closed 2018 with another title-winning performance against Yasubey Enomoto in a joint Fight Nights and GTC tournament, finishing the fight in the fourth round with a heavy body shot. A planned bout with Magomed Ismailov was postponed indefinitely when Ismailov left Fight Nights Global.
UFC Debut and Setbacks (2019–2021)
After his regional success, Kopylov was offered a four-fight contract by UFC matchmakers. He was initially scheduled to face Krzysztof Jotko at UFC Fight Night 149 in St. Petersburg in April 2019, but was forced to withdraw on March 22 due to injury. He finally made his UFC debut on 9 November 2019 at UFC Fight Night 163, where he faced Karl Roberson. The bout did not go his way, as Kopylov lost via submission in the third round, marking the first MMA loss of his career.
What followed was a difficult stretch marked by cancellations and outside circumstances. A booking against Eric Spicely in March 2020 was scrapped when the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A bout with Tom Breese in Abu Dhabi in October 2020 fell through after Kopylov and his coach tested positive for coronavirus upon arrival. A scheduled fight with Sam Alvey in July 2021 was canceled when Kopylov could not obtain his U.S. visa in time. His return finally came on 30 October 2021 at UFC 267, where he faced Albert Duraev and lost via unanimous decision, extending his winless UFC start.
UFC Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Kopylov’s UFC fortunes began to turn in 2022. After a planned bout with Jordan Wright fell through, he faced Alessio Di Chirico on 3 September 2022 at UFC Fight Night 209 and won by knockout in the third round, earning his first UFC victory. He followed that with another impressive performance on 14 January 2023 at UFC Fight Night 217, defeating Punahele Soriano by technical knockout in the second round after a body kick knockdown. The win earned him a Performance of the Night bonus.
The momentum continued through 2023. After a scheduled bout with Josh Fremd fell apart, Kopylov took on Claudio Ribeiro at UFC 291 on 29 July 2023 and won by head kick knockout in the second round. He then stepped in on short notice at UFC Fight Night 227 in September 2023, replacing an injured Anthony Hernandez and ultimately facing Josh Fremd. Kopylov won by body punch knockout in the second round, earning another Performance of the Night award. Across this stretch, he transformed from a struggling debutant into one of the middleweight division’s most dangerous finishers.
Recent UFC Run (2024–2025)
The 2024 season brought a mix of results for Kopylov. He lost to Anthony Hernandez at UFC 298 in February 2024 by rear-naked choke submission in the second round after stepping in on short notice. He bounced back on 1 June 2024 at UFC 302, defeating César Almeida by split decision in a competitive bout. A planned fight with Brunno Ferreira in August 2024 was canceled after Kopylov had appendicitis surgery, forcing him to the sidelines.
Kopylov returned on 11 January 2025 at UFC Fight Night 249, where he faced Chris Curtis. In one of the most dramatic finishes of his career, Kopylov won by head kick knockout with only one second remaining in the third round, earning a Fight of the Night award in the process. He was then scheduled to face former title challenger Paulo Costa at UFC 317 in June 2025, but the bout was moved to UFC 318 on 19 July 2025, where Kopylov lost by unanimous decision. He closed the 2025 calendar with another decision loss to Gregory Rodrigues at UFC 322 on 15 November 2025.
Style and Strengths
Roman Kopylov is a southpaw striker known for his exceptional finishing power, particularly through head kicks and body shots. Much of his offense is built around explosive striking combinations that can end fights in an instant, as demonstrated by his stoppages of Punahele Soriano, Claudio Ribeiro, Josh Fremd, and Chris Curtis. While primarily a striker, his sambo background gives him a credible grappling base, making him a well-rounded threat at middleweight.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Kopylov’s signature moments is his last-second head kick knockout of Chris Curtis at UFC Fight Night 249, a finish widely regarded as one of the most dramatic of the year. He has earned multiple Performance of the Night bonuses, including finishes of Soriano and Fremd, along with a Fight of the Night award for the Curtis bout. His five world titles in hand-to-hand combat sambo also stand as a major milestone in his combat sports career.
Roman Kopylov Career Wins
Across his professional career, Roman Kopylov has compiled a record highlighted by powerful finishes and championship success. The majority of his victories have come by way of knockout, a reflection of his dangerous striking ability and finishing instincts. He has also secured wins by submission and decision, rounding out a versatile offensive skill set.
UFC Highlights
Kopylov’s UFC career has featured several memorable finishes. His first UFC win came against Alessio Di Chirico by third-round knockout, followed by a second-round TKO of Punahele Soriano that earned a Performance of the Night bonus. He added a head kick knockout of Claudio Ribeiro at UFC 291, then a second-round body-punch finish of Josh Fremd that brought another Performance of the Night. His most recent stoppage came against Chris Curtis, a one-second-left head kick knockout that earned a Fight of the Night award.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Kopylov captured the Fight Nights Global Middleweight Championship, stopping Abusupyan Alikhanov after the fourth round, and added another title-winning performance against Yasubey Enomoto in a joint Fight Nights and GTC tournament. He also posted victories in League S-70 and in his professional debut at WCSA, building a strong regional resume before reaching the UFC. His sambo accomplishments, including five world championships, stand as a foundation for his MMA success.
Roman Kopylov Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Roman Kopylov was raised in Shchebzavod in the Kemerovo region of Russia, where his parents, both former athletes, supported his early interest in martial arts. Their athletic background helped nurture his passion for hand-to-hand combat from a young age. He has spoken about the importance of his upbringing in shaping his competitive drive.
Personal Life
Kopylov currently resides in Bachatsky, Russia, where he trains and represents the Ratiborets team. He has not publicly disclosed details about a spouse or children, and he keeps much of his personal life private. Outside of training, he continues to be recognized for his contributions to combat sports in the Kemerovo region.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a high-variance year for Roman Kopylov. He opened with a thrilling last-second head kick knockout of Chris Curtis at UFC Fight Night 249 in January, a finish that earned a Fight of the Night award and reaffirmed his status as a dangerous finisher. That result positioned him for the biggest opportunity of his UFC run, a booking against former title challenger Paulo Costa.
The Costa bout, originally scheduled for UFC 317, was shifted to UFC 318 on 19 July 2025, where Kopylov lost by unanimous decision in a competitive contest. Later in the year, he faced Gregory Rodrigues at UFC 322 on 15 November 2025 and dropped another unanimous decision. Despite the late-year setbacks, the early signature finish over Curtis kept Kopylov firmly in the middleweight mix.
Looking ahead, Kopylov is scheduled to face Marco Tulio on 9 May 2026 at UFC 328, where he is expected to return to the win column. With his finishing power, southpaw style, and sambo pedigree, Kopylov remains a live threat in the middleweight division heading into the new season.
