UFC 328: Roman Kopylov vs Marco Tulio Preview & Prediction
Middleweight KO artists face off on the prelims, with Roman Kopylov facing off against Marco Tulio in a high stakes match-up.
Roman Kopylov vs Marco Tulio facts
What time are Roman Kopylov and Marco Tulio expected to walk out?
Where is UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland? Prudential Center, Newark, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC 328
What TV channel is UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – Paramount
Where can I stream UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland? UK – TNT Sports can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and HBO Max / USA – Paramount+ & UFC Fight Pass
UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland main card
Khamzat Chimaev vs Sean Strickland (Middleweight)
Joshua Van vs Tatsuro Taira (Flyweight)
Alexander Volkov vs Waldo-Cortes Acosta (Heavyweight)
Sean Brady vs Joaquin Buckley (Welterweight)
King Green vs Jeremy Stephens (Lightweight)
UFC 328: Chimaev vs Strickland prelims
Ateba Gautier vs Osman Diaz (Middleweight)
Joel Alvarez vs Yaroslav Amosov (Welterweight)
Grant Dawson vs Mateusz Rebecki (Lightweight)
Jim Miller vs Jared Gordon (Lightweight)
Roman Kopylov vs Marco Tulio (Middleweight)
Pat Sabatini vs William Gomis (Featherweight)
Baisangur Susurkaev vs Djorden Santos (Middleweight)
Clayton Carpenter vs Jose Ochoa (Flyweight)
Roman Kopylov: Can the Russian avoid a third straight defeat?
While he enters this matchup off the back of two straight defeats, Roman Kopylov (14-5) has built a name for himself as one of the most polished strikers operating outside the rankings, courtesy of a superb kicking game and the laser beam accuracy with which he throws his shots. A four fight run of straight finishes from 2022 to 2023 had many labelling the Russian as a future dark horse contender, only for his streak to be snapped and his ceiling decisively established with a submission defeat to Anthony Hernandez. Nevertheless, Kopylov remains one of the most difficult kickboxing tests on offer at 185 pounds.
Marco Tulio: Can "Mutato" rebound from a devastating KO loss last time out?
Kicking off his UFC career with back to back first round finishes over Ihor Poteria and Tresean Gore, Marco Tulio (14-2) came crashing back down to earth in his last appearance against Christian Leroy Duncan, finding himself on the wrong end of a nasty KO loss for his first defeat in nearly seven years. An extremely aggressive striker who throws monstrous shots at an absurd clip, Tulio is a powerhouse when he's on his game, a state of affairs underlined by eleven finishes in fourteen professional victories. He's also got a win over Yousri Belgaroui on the Contender Series, a victory that is only aging better in light of "The Baby Faced Assassin's" recent run of UFC form.
Roman Kopylov vs Marco Tulio prediction
This is a solid matchup between two decent talents just outside of the rankings at 185 pounds.
While the oddsmakers are leaning towards Tulio, there’s plenty of reasons to pick Kopylov here. While “Matuto" might have the edge when it comes to straight up power, the Russian is arguably the more technical striker of the two. Tulio is coming off a rough KO loss to Christian Leroy Duncan and it’s not inconceivable that he finds himself in deep waters against another striking virtuoso.
The Russian has also been in there with considerably stiffer than Tulio throughout his UFC run to date, sharing the cage with the likes of Anthony Hernandez, Paulo Costa, and Gregory Rodrigues. Those fights may not have gone his way, but Kopylov largely hung tough in those match ups, had his moments, and was never completely outclassed. By contrast, Tulio may have been 2-0 in the promotion leading up to his match with “CLD,” but those wins came over fairly mediocre competition in the form of Ihor Poteria and Tresean Gore.
It’s likely going to come down to what prevails; Tulio’s output and damage or Kopylov’s accuracy. However, given Tulio's relentless forward pressure and Kopylov's tendency to get backed up to the cage as of late, the tentative pick is for "Matuto" to rebound by earning the nod from the judges in a razor close fight.
Prediction: Marco Tulio to win by decision
