Aug 20, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Paulo Costa (red gloves) reacts after defeating Luke Rockhold (blue gloves) during UFC 278 at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

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Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov Preview, Predictions And MMA Betting Odds

Get to know the betting odds, predictions and picks for the upcoming Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov fight at UFC 318!

Aug 20, 2022; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Paulo Costa (red gloves) reacts after defeating Luke Rockhold (blue gloves) during UFC 278 at Vivint Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

The middleweight division has been very unpredictable. That’s exactly what makes the upcoming clash between Paulo Costa and Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 so intriguing. Both fighters pack serious power in their hands, and neither one seems particularly interested in taking things to the judges’ scorecards.

Costa, the Brazilian powerhouse burst onto the scene like a wrecking ball. His early UFC run was nothing short of spectacular, steamrolling through opponents with forward aggression. After falling short against Israel Adesanya in his title shot, Costa has struggled to find his rhythm. Meanwhile, Kopylov has been quietly building momentum, turning heads with his crisp striking and finishing ability. The Russian southpaw has been on a tear lately, and he’s hungry to make a statement against a big name.

Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov Preview

This co main event at UFC 318 promises fireworks from the opening bell. Costa stands 6’1″ with a 72 inch reach, while Kopylov measures 6’0″ with a longer 75 inch reach. Costa brings orthodox aggression with devastating power, landing 6.22 significant strikes per minute with 58% accuracy. His defensive statistics tell a different story though, absorbing 6.56 strikes per minute with only 49% strike defense.

Kopylov operates from a southpaw stance and fights with more measured precision. He lands 4.96 significant strikes per minute at 50% accuracy while absorbing just 4.86 strikes per minute. His strike defense sits at a respectable 55%. Where things get interesting is in the grappling department. Costa averages 0.36 takedowns per fight with 75% accuracy and 80% defense. Kopylov shows more wrestling activity with 1.17 takedowns per fight, though his accuracy drops to 42%. His takedown defense is stellar at 87%.

Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov MMA Betting Odds

The sportsbooks have spoken, and they’re not showing much love for Costa. According to Fanduel, Roman Kopylov enters as the -265 betting favorite. Meanwhile, Paulo Costa sits as the +200 underdog. These odds reflect several factors working against the Brazilian. His two fight losing streak has clearly hurt his stock, especially after looking flat in his recent performances.

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The odds for the fight going the distance has also come out. The probability of the fight ending before the final bell is lower and the odds (+140) reflect that. The odds for the fight seeing the judges scorecards stand at -180.

Paulo Costa vs Roman Kopylov Predictions And Picks

This matchup boils down to timing and activity levels. Kopylov enters with serious momentum after back to back wins over solid competition. His combinations flow better than Costa’s one shot hunting approach. The Russian sets up his strikes intelligently and doesn’t leave himself as exposed when throwing power shots. Costa’s tendency to load up on haymakers could backfire against someone with Kopylov’s counter striking ability.

The activity factor can’t be ignored either. Ring rust is real, especially for someone who relies heavily on timing and explosive power. Costa’s Brazilian jiu jitsu background gives him a potential path to victory if he can get the fight to the ground, but Kopylov’s 87% takedown defense makes that a tough proposition.

If we bet on the fight, we are going with Roman Kopylov to win the fight via Unanimous decision.

(Image Credit: Jeffrey Swinger – Imagn Images)

Paulo Costa

Roman Kopylov

UFC 318

Zaid Quraishi

mma

I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!