Chris Curtis vs Roman Kopylov at UFC Fight Night 249 | Preview & Prediction
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It is the middleweights up next as Chris Curtis takes on Roman Kopylov in what could easily be one of the Fight of the Night contenders
Chris Curtis vs Roman Kopylov Facts
When is UFC Fight Night 249? UK – the preliminary card starts at 9:00pm on Saturday 11th January 2024, followed by the main card at 12:00am (Sunday) / USA – 4:00pm/7:00pm ET (Saturday) and 1:00pm/4:00pm PT (Saturday)
Where is UFC Fight Night 249? UFC Apex, Las Vegas, USA
Where can I get tickets for UFC Fight Night 249? Click here for the latest ticket information for UFC Fight Night 249
What TV channel is UFC Fight Night 249 on? UK – TNT Sports / USA – ESPN+
Where can I stream UFC Fight Night 249? UK – TNT Sports subscribers can stream the event online via the TNT Sports website and discovery+ / USA – ESPN+ & UFC Fight Pass
For viewers in the United States, UFC Fight Night 249 will be shown live on ESPN+ and you can sign up for access as part of a Disney Bundle here!
What time are Chris Curtis and Roman Kopylov expected to walk out? Sunday 12th January, 2025, 2:00am UK / Saturday 11th January, 9:00pm US ET / 6:00pm US PT
UFC Fight Night 249 Main Card Event
Mackenzie Dern vs Amanda Ribas (Women’s Strawweight)
Santiago Ponzinibbio vs Carlston Harris (Welterweight)
Cesar Almeida vs Abdul Razak Alhassan (Middleweight)
Chris Curtis vs Roman Kopylov (Middleweight)
Christian Rodriguez vs Austin Bashi (Featherweight)
Punahele Soriano vs Uros Medic (Welterweight)
UFC Fight Night 249 Prelims
Jose Johnson vs Felipe Bunes (Flyweight)
Marco Tulio vs Ihor Potieria (Middleweight)
Thiago Moises vs Trey Ogden (Lightweight)
Ernesta Kareckaitė vs Nicolle Caliari (Women’s Flyweight)
Magomed Gadzhiyasulov vs Bruno Lopes (Light Heavyweight)
Fatima Kline vs Victoria Dudakova (Women’s Strawweight)
Preston Parsons vs Jacobe Smith (Welterweight)
Nurullo Aliev vs Joe Solecki (Lightweight)
Chris Curtis: 43-fight veteran coming off split decision loss
Chris Curtis (31-11 with one no contest) is coming off a split decision loss at the hands of Brendan Allen back in April so the 37-year-old will be keen to get back to winning ways and stay relevant in the middleweight division. He has some excellent wins in recent times, including a knockout victory over Joaquin Buckley in 2022 which is looking better every time Buckley wins. He now faces a tough assignment in Kopylov.
Roman Kopylov: Russian middleweight looks to make it sixth win in last seven
Roman Kopylov (13-3) is fighting for the first time since last June after having a bout in August cancelled due to appendicitis surgery. He now returns looking to continue his rise in the division and follow up a split-decision win last time out over Cesar Almeida at UFC 302. Kopylov has scary power combined with a formidable Sambo base which makes him an incredibly dangerous opponent for anybody.
Chris Curtis vs Roman Kopylov Prediction
This bout in the UFC’s middleweight division could very well be a Fight of the Night candidate as Chris Curtis and Roman Kopylov have not been involved in many boring fights recently.
Both are seasoned veterans who have been fighting at a high level for some time now but it is Kopylov’s power that is the real standout feature coming into this bout.
11 of Kopylov’s 13 wins have come via knockout but he will not find it easy to KO a veteran like Curtis who has only been knocked out once in 43 fights.
He can however slow the veteran down with his striking power and while we would not rule out him getting the stoppage, we think he has enough energy to cause Curtis enough problems to get the win either by KO or decision.
Prediction: Roman Kopylov to win by KO or Decision
