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. A former standout in hand-to-hand combat sambo, he built his reputation as an aggressive finisher before transitioning to professional mixed martial arts in 2016. Kopylov trains out of Ratiborets and is widely respected for his knockout power, having finished the majority of his professional victories inside the distance.
Standing 183 centimeters tall with a 191-centimeter reach and fighting from a southpaw stance, Kopylov has assembled a record built largely on striking. Over the course of his career, he has captured multiple Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses inside the UFC, reinforcing his reputation as one of the more dangerous finishers in the middleweight class.
Early Life and Background
Roman Kopylov was born in Shchebzavod, a small village in the Kemerovo Oblast of what was then the Soviet Union. Growing up in a household shaped by athletics, with both parents being former athletes, he was introduced to structured sport at a young age. His family environment encouraged discipline and competition, and that foundation helped guide him toward combat sports.
Kopylov began practicing martial arts at the age of 9 and quickly progressed through local and regional competitions. By 2010, he was collecting trophies at city, regional, and higher-level championships, establishing himself as a rising talent. He also served in the National Guard of the Siberian District, where he continued to compete in martial arts and refine his combat skills.
After completing his studies, Kopylov earned degrees in economics and physical education from Kemerovo State University and Novokuznetsk Institute, graduating from a branch of Kemerovo State University in 2014. Throughout his amateur career, he cited Fedor Emelianenko as his MMA idol, drawing inspiration from one of Russia’s most decorated heavyweights.
Path to MMA
Before stepping into the mixed martial arts cage, Kopylov built an extensive résumé in hand-to-hand combat sambo. He is a five-time world champion in the discipline, a record that ranks him among the most accomplished sambists of his generation. He has also claimed several European and Russian championships, demonstrating consistency against elite-level competition.
His success in sambo provided a natural on-ramp into professional MMA. With a strong base in striking, grappling, and competitive conditioning, Kopylov made his professional debut in April 2016. He also maintained a parallel career in RB competition during this period, showcasing the versatility that would later define his MMA trajectory.
Roman Kopylov Career
Early Career (2016–2018)
Roman Kopylov began his MMA career in Ufa in April 2016 at a WCSA tournament, where he won his debut bout against Filipe Aiyugono of Guinea by unanimous decision. Later that year, he competed in League S-70 and added another victory, this time by knockout against a foreign opponent. By the end of 2016, he fought Islam Gugov in the DIA promotion, continuing to stack experience at a rapid pace.
In 2017, Kopylov signed with Fight Nights Global and defeated Artem Shokalo and Jacob Ortiz before returning to League S-70 for another win. He was then awarded a shot at the Fight Nights Middleweight Championship against Abusupyan Alikhanov, who entered the bout on a nine-fight winning streak. Kopylov’s pressure proved decisive, and Alikhanov’s corner stopped the contest after the fourth round. In 2018, Kopylov added another major title by defeating Yasubei Enomoto in a joint Fight Nights and GTC tournament, finishing the legendary veteran in the fourth round with a heavy body shot.
UFC Breakthrough (2019–2022)
Kopylov was offered a four-fight contract by UFC matchmakers and was initially scheduled to face Krzysztof Jotko in April 2019, but he withdrew from the bout due to injury. He ultimately made his UFC debut on 9 November 2019 at UFC Fight Night 163, where he suffered his first professional loss, a third-round submission to Karl Roberson. A string of canceled bouts followed, including scrapped matchups with Eric Spicely, Tom Breese, and Sam Alvey, the latter due to visa issues.
On 30 October 2021, Kopylov faced Albert Duraev at UFC 267 and lost by unanimous decision. After another canceled booking against Jordan Wright, he finally secured his first UFC victory on 3 September 2022 at UFC Fight Night 209, knocking out Alessio Di Chirico in the third round. The win signaled a turning point and set the stage for a strong run in the middleweight division.
Ratiborets Era (2023–Present)
Building momentum out of his Ratiborets base, Kopylov opened 2023 with a second-round technical knockout of Punahele Soriano at UFC Fight Night 217, a performance that earned him a Performance of the Night bonus. He followed that with a highlight-reel head-kick knockout of Claudio Ribeiro at UFC 291, and then stepped in as a replacement to face Josh Fremd at UFC Fight Night 227, where a second-round body-punch knockout brought another Performance of the Night award.
At UFC 298 in February 2024, Kopylov was submitted by Anthony Hernandez in a competitive second-round bout, but he bounced back at UFC 302 in June 2024, taking a split decision over César Almeida. After withdrawing from a scheduled August 2024 bout with Brunno Ferreira due to appendicitis surgery, he returned on 11 January 2025 at UFC Fight Night 249, where he knocked out Chris Curtis with a head kick one second before the end of the third round to claim a Fight of the Night award. A scheduled bout with Paulo Costa at UFC 317 was moved to UFC 318 on 19 July 2025, where Kopylov lost by unanimous decision. His most recent appearance came on 15 November 2025 at UFC 322, where he dropped a unanimous decision to Gregory Rodrigues.
Driving Style and Strengths
Kopylov fights from a southpaw stance and is at his most dangerous when he can dictate range with his long reach and sharp kicking game. His sambo background gives him a sturdy defensive base and dangerous clinch work, while his finishing instincts make him a constant threat on the feet. Most of his UFC wins have come by knockout, a reflection of his patient setups and sudden bursts of power.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his signature moments are the head-kick finish of Claudio Ribeiro at UFC 291, the body-punch knockout of Josh Fremd at UFC Fight Night 227, and the dramatic last-second head-kick knockout of Chris Curtis at UFC Fight Night 249. The Curtis fight, in particular, stands out as one of the more memorable finishes of his UFC tenure, capping a bout that also earned him a Fight of the Night award.
Roman Kopylov Career Wins
Across his professional career, Kopylov has compiled a record defined by finishes, with knockouts forming the backbone of his victories. His blend of regional and international titles, combined with multiple UFC post-fight bonuses, highlights a fighter who consistently delivers action-packed performances against top opposition.
UFC Highlights
Kopylov’s first UFC victory came against Alessio Di Chirico in September 2022, a third-round knockout that launched his surge through the middleweight ranks. He has since added knockout wins over Punahele Soriano, Claudio Ribeiro, Josh Fremd, and Chris Curtis, with the Curtis finish standing as his most recent UFC victory. Several of these performances have been rewarded with Performance of the Night and Fight of the Night bonuses, underlining his finishing pedigree.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Kopylov captured the Fight Nights Middleweight Championship and defeated veteran Yasubei Enomoto in a joint Fight Nights and GTC event. His pre-UFC resume also includes victories in League S-70 and DIA, where he built the experience that prepared him for the world’s largest MMA promotion.
Roman Kopylov Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kopylov was raised in Shchebzavod, in the Kemerovo Oblast, by parents who were both former athletes. Their athletic background helped shape his early discipline and introduced him to competitive sport at a young age, setting the foundation for his future in combat sports.
Personal Life
Kopylov resides in Bachatsky, Russia, where he continues to train and develop his career. He is a graduate of Kemerovo State University and Novokuznetsk Institute, and he continues to be recognized as one of the leading Russian middleweight competitors of his era.
2025 Season Performance
Roman Kopylov entered 2025 coming off a split decision win over César Almeida and was eager to push back into the middleweight rankings. His January 2025 clash with Chris Curtis at UFC Fight Night 249 produced one of the most dramatic knockouts of the year, a last-second head kick that earned him a Fight of the Night bonus and re-established him as a dangerous finisher in the division.
The remainder of 2025 proved more challenging. A high-profile booking against former title challenger Paulo Costa was shifted from UFC 317 to UFC 318 in July, where Kopylov dropped a unanimous decision. He returned to action on 15 November 2025 at UFC 322 and again fell on the judges’ scorecards against Gregory Rodrigues, a defeat that halted his momentum after the Curtis victory.
Despite the late-year setbacks, Kopylov’s knockout of Curtis and his run of post-fight bonuses have positioned him as a relevant middleweight moving forward. With the experience of five-round battles against top-tier opposition, he remains a striker-first contender capable of finishing any opponent on any given night.