Middleweight strikers round out Saturday night’s early prelims, as Roman Kopylov faces Marco Tulio at UFC 328 in Newark, New Jersey.
Kopylov (14–5, 6–5 UFC) has dropped back-to-back decisions, most recently losing on the scorecards to Gregory Rodrigues in November. Tulio (14–2, 2–1 UFC) aims to bounce back after a second-round knockout loss to Christian Leroy Duncan that same month, snapping a 10-fight win streak.
Tulio enters as a -185 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Kopylov sits as a +154 underdog. The total is set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Kopylov vs. Tulio Preview
Roman Kopylov
Seasoned UFC veteran Roman Kopylov is looking to get back on track after rounding out 2025 with a pair of decision losses to Paulo Costa and Gregory Rodrigues. Despite coming up short, the Russian southpaw showed off his concrete durability against the hard-hitting ranked contenders. Kopylov has never been knocked out across his decade-long career.
Even at 34, Kopylov remains a formidable kickboxer who uses every weapon in his arsenal. Twelve of his 14 professional wins have come by knockout — most recently a highlight-reel head kick that stopped Chris Curtis just before the bell in January 2025.
Marco Tulio
Like his opponent, Marco Tulio is not to be messed with on the feet. The Brazilian striker, 31, has collected 10 knockouts across 14 professional wins, including his first two trips to the Octagon.
But “Matuto” recently got a taste of his own medicine, getting put to sleep by Christian Leroy Duncan in the second round of their November scrap. While it was just his second professional loss — and came after 10 straight wins — it was also Tulio’s second time getting knocked out, chiseling away at his chin.
Kopylov vs. Tulio Pick, Best Bet
Saturday’s middleweight clash should make for a thrilling — and unpredictable — stand-up battle between dangerous knockout artists. However, Kopylov has cemented himself as one of the division’s most battle-tested strikers, and he shouldn’t have a problem eating shots from his less-experienced opponent. Meanwhile, Tulio’s compromised chin raises questions about his ability to trade blows with the durable veteran.
This fight could go either way — but if someone’s getting a finish, it should be Kopylov.
