Middleweights
Alessio Di Chirico (13-6, 4-6 UFC) vs. Roman Kopylov (8-2, 0-2 UFC)Middleweights look to get some momentum going in this clash. Things just have not clicked for Kopylov thus far in his UFC career, and with two losses in two fights, time might be running out for him to turn the situation around. On the regional scene in his native Russia, Kopylov used pace and volume to outlast his opponents. Blessed with some legitimately fast hands, Kopylov could consistently win exchange after exchange and avoid enough damage to rack up some late finishes once his opponents were sufficiently overwhelmed. However, upon his UFC debut in 2019 against Karl Roberson, it became clear that Kopylov would struggle against more powerful athletes able to match him on his own terms. After a two-year layoff, Kopylov did put in a game effort against a tough wrestler in Albert Duraev in October, but turning the corner into a winning performance is crucial against Italy’s Di Chirico. A physically solid fighter with some well-rounded skills, Di Chirico is often quite frustrating to watch. Left to his own devices, “Manzo” would prefer to neutralize his opponent and coast out a slow-paced win. The Italian is still capable of enough moments of violence to stay interesting, as his 2021 knockout of Joaquin Buckley showed, but that momentum was short-lived, as Di Chirico surprisingly suffered the first knockout loss of his career his next time out. Given Di Chirico’s unwillingness to force the issue, Kopylov could win this simply by staying at range and pot-shotting away. However, with Di Chirico being the harder hitter and a capable wrestler, the Italian does seemingly have the avenues to separate himself on the scorecards. It is unlikely to be inspiring, but the pick is Di Chirico via decision.
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Di Chirico vs. Kopylov
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The Prelims