Costa vs Kopylov Prediction
📢 Top Russian middleweight prospect Roman Kopylov is set to face off against Brazilian star Paulo Costa. Their bout will take place on the night of July 19-20 at UFC 318 in New Orleans, USA.
Originally, the fighters were scheduled to clash at UFC 317 on June 28 in Las Vegas, USA. However, Costa contracted a virus, leading to a postponement of their fight by several months. Can Kopylov secure a victory in this eagerly anticipated matchup, or will Costa prove to be the stronger fighter? Read Scores24's prediction for this showdown!
H2H Stats Fights and Previous Results
Paulo Henrique Costa Player Overview
Costa boasts impressive jiu-jitsu skills but prefers to engage in stand-up fighting, where he consistently pushes forward and delivers a high volume of strikes. For a middleweight at 84 kg, the Brazilian packs considerable power. However, it's worth noting that he struggles significantly with cardio.
Costa began his mixed martial arts career in 2012. He became the middleweight champion in the Face to Face and Jungle Fight leagues before moving to the UFC, where he has won 6 out of 11 bouts. Over his last five fights, Paulo has managed just one victory. His most recent appearance in the octagon was in June of last year, when he lost to Sean Strickland by unanimous decision.
Match Results: Paulo Henrique Costa
Roman Kopylov Player Overview
Kopylov is fundamentally a striker. He overwhelms opponents with kicks at all levels, boasts excellent footwork, and displays impressive speed for a middleweight. However, he faces challenges in grappling. His takedown defense is lacking, as is his positional defense on the ground.
Kopylov has been competing in professional MMA since 2016, holding a record of 14-3. In 2018, he claimed the Fight Nights Global middleweight title and successfully defended it once before transitioning to the UFC. In the UFC, Roman has fought nine times, securing six victories. His most recent bout was in January of this year, where he knocked out Chris Curtis in the third round.
Match Results: Roman Kopylov
Editorial Prediction
It's clear that Kopylov is a solid and dynamic striker. A couple of years ago, when he was on a four-fight winning streak, there was talk about his championship potential. However, we consider Roman to be a mid-tier fighter by UFC standards. Whenever he faces higher caliber opponents like Albert Duraev or Anthony Hernandez, he encounters problems. We anticipate that Kopylov will face difficulties against Costa as well. Despite a series of setbacks, Costa's class remains proven at the elite level, and his aggressive style will pose significant challenges for Roman.
.svg)