Roman Kopylov is set to face rising star Ateba Gautier in a middleweight bout that will serve as the main card opener at UFC 332 this Saturday. The highly anticipated fight is scheduled to take place at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Kopylov (15-5 MMA, 7-5 UFC) enters the contest having snapped a two-fight losing streak with a unanimous decision victory over Marco Tulio at UFC 328. His opponent, Gautier (11-1 MMA, 5-0 UFC), is on a strong run, securing his second win of 2026 with a knockout of Ozzy Diaz in May, and has drawn comparisons to a middleweight Francis Ngannou.
The Fighters: Gautier vs Kopylov
Ateba Gautier, often referred to as “The Storm”, has made a significant impact in the UFC over the past year and a half, racking up five wins, four of which were by knockout. He is viewed as a physical specimen, benefiting from a 10-year age advantage, a four-inch height advantage, and a six-inch reach advantage over Kopylov. Oddsmakers and the public heavily favour the Cameroonian fighter, listing Gautier at -245 via FanDuel.
Roman Kopylov presents a significant challenge as Gautier’s toughest opponent to date. Kopylov, an experienced southpaw, was a professional kickboxer before transitioning to the UFC. He is known for his technical kickboxing skills and durability, notably having never been knocked out in his MMA career. Despite his UFC record, he has taken formidable opponents like Paulo Costa and Gregory Rodrigues to decision. Kopylov is listed as the underdog at +194 via FanDuel.
Expert Predictions and Analysis
MMA Junkie analyst Dan Tom has made an expert pick, favouring Kopylov to secure a win on the scorecards, as reported by Central Oregon Daily. Tom suggests that Kopylov’s southpaw savvy and experience could pose problems for Gautier, provided he can withstand the initial onslaught. He also points out that Gautier has shown some fundamental difficulties in effectively tracking open-stance opponents.
SportsGrid analysis highlights both combatants as dangerous strikers. While Gautier is favoured, Kopylov’s technical kickboxing and durability are noted as factors that could make him a solid bet. The fight is anticipated to be competitive and potentially last all three rounds, with Kopylov’s higher strike volume potentially making a significant impact if it goes the distance. SportsGrid also suggests Kopylov could exploit Gautier’s vulnerabilities with takedowns.
Meanwhile, Covers.com predicts Gautier will secure his sixth consecutive UFC win, though they anticipate it could go to the judges’ scorecards rather than an early knockout. They acknowledge Gautier’s significant speed and power advantages, alongside his proven ability to last 15 minutes. However, Kopylov’s track record of enduring fights against powerful strikers, never being knocked out, suggests a knockout victory for Gautier will be challenging to achieve. A win for Gautier via decision is considered a potentially valuable bet due to the payout.
Fight Details and Viewing Information
The main card opener featuring Gautier and Kopylov is expected to commence at approximately 8:10 p.m. ET. For viewers in the UK, details for streaming will vary, but the fight streams live on Paramount+ and will air on CBS in the US.
