NEW ORLEANS – Roman Kopylov, facing his most significant challenge to date as he competes against former UFC title challenger Paulo Costa in the co-main event of UFC 318, remains confident in Costa’s standing within the middleweight division. The fight, scheduled for Saturday at Smoothie King Center, marks a pivotal moment for the 14-3 Kopylov, who is currently 6-3 in his UFC tenure.
Despite Costa’s recent struggles, evident in a two-fight losing streak and a 1-4 record over the past five bouts since 2020, Kopylov maintains that Costa deserves recognition as an elite competitor at 185 pounds. “Borrachinha,” as he’s known, is taking the fight seriously.
“Either way, with all the delays and the mishaps in his career, he’s still in the top 15, which is the elite part of the division,” Kopylov stated during Wednesday’s UFC 318 media day. “I think he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be in his career.”
This fight represents a significant career milestone for Kopylov, being his first encounter with a former UFC title contender and his inaugural appearance in a UFC pay-per-view co-main event. Recognizing the importance of the opportunity, Kopylov emphasized his desire to progress toward his ultimate objective: securing UFC gold.
“It’s a really big fight for me and a huge opportunity,” Kopylov commented. “A win over such an opponent like Paulo Costa would just bring me closer to the top of the division. Every victory gets me closer to where I want to be.”