After beginning his career with eight consecutive triumphs, Russian prospect Roman Kopylov has signed with the UFC.
A 27-year-old middleweight, Kopylov is part the Rati team — also known as “Рать” — a management company based in Yekaterinburg, Russia that represents approximately 29 fighters throughout the country.
Nicknamed “The Novel,” Kopylov will reportedly make his Octagon debut at the UFC’s April 20 card in St. Petersburg, Russia. An opponent has not been named.
Before beginning his MMA career, Kopylov won multiple championships in combat sambo in Russia and Europe and was also a five-time world hand-to-hand champion. He has finished seven of his eight career MMA triumphs by knockout or technical knockout while competing for organizations such as Fight Nights Global and Absolute Championship Berkut.
Kopylov claimed the Fight Nights Global 185-pound title with a fourth-round TKO of Abdulsupyan Alikhanov in March 2018 before defending his crown with a fourth-round body-punch KO of Yasubey Enomoto this past December.