Punahele Soriano vs. Roman Kopylov is scheduled for three rounds in the middleweight division as a featured attraction on this weekend’s UFC Fight Night card from the UFC Apex.
Both Soriano and Kopylov are riding high in this clash between top contenders, and this should be an excellent fight between a pair of battlers known for their finishing powers.
UFC odds have Soriano as a -150 favorite to topple the durable Russian. Kopylov is a live betting underdog at +130.
Here are our UFC picks and predictions for Soriano vs. Kopylov at Fight Night in Las Vegas.
Punahele Soriano vs Roman Kopylov fight odds
Punahele Soriano vs Roman Kopylov method of victory odds
| Method of Victory | Punahele Soriano | Roman Kopylov |
|---|---|---|
| To win by KO/TKO | +180 | +320 |
| To win by Points | +330 | +430 |
| To win by Submission | +950 | +1,700 |
| Draw | +5,000 | +5,000 |
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook on January 14, 2022.
Punahele Soriano vs Roman Kopylov picks
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Punahele Soriano vs Roman Kopylov betting preview
Soriano and Kopylov came into the UFC with identical undefeated records and find themselves just one fight removed from a two-fight skid. These two haven’t strayed too far off the path, but another loss for either fighter puts them further away from bigger opportunities. With 14 combined finishes between them, this could end up being a violent fight for relevancy.
After posting losses to Brendan Allen and Nick Maximov, Soriano got back on track with a second-round TKO of Dalcha Lungiambula last July. “Puna” is a solid striker with good power and decent accuracy. If Soriano lands a clean shot, he is great at following up and drawing a stoppage with a follow-up barrage.
Puna mixes that big striking power with decent grappling and offensive urgency. He averages 3.95 significant strikes per minute at 47% accuracy with 1.02 takedowns per 15 minutes at 57% accuracy with an average fight time of 9:46. Only one of Soriano’s nine victories has gone the distance, and he has seven first-round stoppages from strikes.
Kopylov overwhelmed Alessio Di Chirico last September to snap his two-fight losing streak. The Russian is a physically gritty fighter who wears you out with a taxing style. He spent a lot of time in the pocket against Di Chirico and didn’t look any worse for wear as he bludgeoned him ahead of stopping him in the third.
The Novosibirsk native is looking to impose that same toughness against Soriano. He averages 3.44 significant strikes per minute at 44% accuracy and 0.37 takedowns per 15 minutes at 33% accuracy. Like Soriano, Kopylov is a strong finisher who won the majority of his fights by stoppage before joining the UFC.
Soriano enjoys the advantage of facing and beating the better competition. Kopylov will enjoy height and reach advantages. Aside from that, these two have clear paths to victory over the other.
Punahele Soriano vs Roman Kopylov tale of the tape
| Punahele Soriano | Roman Kopylov | |
|---|---|---|
| 30 | Age | 31 |
| 5-foot-11 | Height | 6-foot-0 |
| 185 lbs | Weight | 186 lbs |
| 72 inches | Reach | 75 inches |
| 9-2 (6 KO) | Record | 9-2 |
Punahele Soriano vs Roman Kopylov UFC prediction and best bet
Our prediction is compiled from the analysis of the fighters and is an indication of who we are leaning with to win this bout.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this fight or where the most value lies, and is where we would put some of our bankroll behind.
Prediction: Soriano ML (-150)
Soriano is the better striker and defends well, but he has a problem defending takedowns. That won’t be a problem here, as Kopylov seldom bothers with grappling and will be content to engage him up top. Because Kopylov relies on that trademark Russian toughness and will eventually trade with Soriano, it’s not difficult to imagine he’ll get clipped.
Kopylov was outstruck in his two losses but never faced a striker with Soriano’s power and accuracy. We’re leaning towards Soriano to take the win here.
Prediction: Soriano moneyline (-150 at DraftKings)
Best bet: Soriano KO/TKO/DQ in Round 2 (+650)
Kopylov’s aggressive style will play right into Puna’s hands, eventually walking into a check hook he might not even see. A fighter with a strong takedown game or stifling grappler could disrupt Soriano’s rhythm, but that isn’t what Kopylov does. This should get dusty in the opening moments, but Soriano’s power will make its mark by the end of the first round.
Soriano will continue to put the hard shots on Kopylov until he folds in the second round. We’re going with Soriano via KO/TKO/DQ in Round 2 at +650
Pick: Soriano to win by KO/TKO/DQ in Round 2 (+650 at DraftKings)
