Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov prediction, pick, time: UFC Vegas 101

Chris Curtis and Roman Kopylov meet Saturday on the UFC Struggle Night time 249 important card on the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. Try this fast breakdown of the matchup from MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom. 

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Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov UFC Struggle Night time 249 preview

Curtis (31-11 MMA, 5-3 UFC) enters his first combat of 2025 searching for a definitive consequence. His final three walks to the octagon have resulted in a no contest and a pair of break up choices. Final January, Curtis gained a break up over Marc-Andre Barriault after which misplaced a break up to Brendan Allen in April. … Kopylov (13-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) additionally enters on the heels of a break up resolution. In June, Kopylov squeezed out a win over Cesar Almeida to return to the win column after a loss to Anthony Hernandez snapped a four-fight profitable streak.

Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov UFC Struggle Night time 249 professional choose, prediction

Filling out the principle card is one other southpaw vs. southpaw affair between middleweights Curtis and Kopylov.

Though Curtis formally stands at 1-1 reverse UFC-level lefties, he might simply be 2-0 if weren’t for an unlucky conflict of heads in his combat with Kelvin Gastelum.

Curtis nonetheless takes a while to get his reads no matter stance, however “The Motion Man” is nice about using an underrated jab to get offense occurring the toes. That mentioned, leg kicks look like the widespread offender for Cutis given the weighted nature of his entrance foot.

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Chris Curtis, who faces Roman Kopylov at #UFCVegas101, is formally 1-1 when going through fellow UFC-level southpaws.

Curtis KO’d Joaquin Buckley and misplaced a detailed and controversial resolution to Kelvin Gastelum, the place a conflict of heads costed him in a combat that he ought to’ve gained (imo). pic.twitter.com/Um9WzkzWYi

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) January 10, 2025

Sharing Curtis’s report towards lefties and leg kick susceptibilities alike is Kopylov, who formally stands at 1-1 towards UFC-level southpaws.

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Roman Kopylov, who faces Chris Curtis at #UFCVegas101, is formally 1-1 when going through fellow UFC-level southpaws (W: Punahele Soriano; L: Karl Roberson)#TheSouthpawReport pic.twitter.com/YeGuf0wNgw

— Dan Tom (@DanTomMMA) January 10, 2025

Kopylov can be good about utilizing his lead hand in closed-stance affairs, and his bodywork will probably be key for his win situations. That mentioned, I nonetheless discover myself siding with the superior bodyworker in Curtis.

Not solely is Curtis the higher striker in prolonged exchanges, however I consider that his strain might wreak havoc towards a fighter who struggles off the backfoot like Kopylov, significantly inside the smaller cage.

Since MMA judges are historically blind to issues like bodywork, counters and shoulder rolling, I’ll choose Curtis to win by break up resolution.

Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov UFC Struggle Night time 249 odds

The oddsmakers and the general public are favoring the Russian fighter, itemizing Kopylov -225 and Curtis +188 through FanDuel.

Chris Curtis vs. Roman Kopylov UFC Struggle Night time 249 begin time, methods to watch

As the principle card opener, Curtis and Kopylov are anticipated to stroll to the cage at roughly 8:10 p.m. ET. The combat will stream on ESPN+.