Roman Kopylov vs. Paulo Costa: Everything to Know Before UFC 318's Explosive Co-Main Event

Russian middleweight contender Roman Kopylov is set for the highest-profile bout of his career when he meets former title challenger Paulo Costa in the co-main event of UFC 318 on 19 July 2025 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Kopylov (14-3, 6-3 UFC) has rattled off six wins in his last seven outings, climbing into the top-15 on the strength of highlight-reel knockouts and a recent head-kick finish of Chris Curtis that earned “Fight of the Night” honors. While the 34-year-old admits he is “still settling in” to life inside the Octagon, he views the Costa matchup as the perfect springboard toward title contention. “It's a really big fight for me and a huge opportunity,” Kopylov said during Wednesday’s media day. “A win over Paulo Costa would bring me closer to the top of the division. Every victory gets me closer to where I want to be”. The Russian striker has spent an extended camp sharpening his taekwondo-based kicking game, even bringing in a national-team strategist to dissect Costa’s tendencies. Kopylov believes his speed edge and fluid footwork will be key against the Brazilian’s trademark power combinations. Costa (14-4, 6-4 UFC) enters on a two-fight skid and is 1-4 since 2020, yet remains ranked thanks to past wars with Israel Adesanya, Robert Whittaker and Marvin Vettori. “With all the delays and mishaps in his career, he’s still in the top 15, which is the elite part of the division,” Kopylov noted, making clear he is not underestimating “Borrachinha”. Stylistically, fans can expect a stand-up firefight. Both men own double-digit knockout totals, and Kopylov predicts “many exchanges” that could end inside 15 minutes. Oddsmakers currently list the bout near pick ’em territory, reflecting the intrigue of an established name versus a surging threat. Beyond rankings implications, UFC 318 offers Kopylov his first pay-per-view co-main slot—valuable exposure on a card headlined by the trilogy between Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier. Should he extend his winning streak to three, Kopylov has already mentioned former champion Sean Strickland as a potential next opponent, underscoring his confidence that victory over Costa vaults him into the division’s upper echelon. UFC 318 prelims begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, with the main card live on pay-per-view at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from New Orleans.