Two fighters with a similar record of 9-2 go head-to-head in an interesting matchup on the main card of the UFC Fight Night 217. A recent entrant in the elite promotion, Punahele Soriano joined UFC in December 2019 in a debut fight against Oskar Piechota. Roman Kopylov debuted a month earlier than his opponent in a loss to Oskar Piechota. Both fighters enter the cage on the back of a win after suffering two consecutive losses. The fight will take place at the UFC Apex, Las Vegas, USA, on 14th January, 2023.
MMA: UFC Middleweight
Location: UFC Apex, Las Vegas
Where to watch: ESPN+
Date: 15.1. 2023, 4:00
Punahele Soriano
Soriano is a 30-year-old American southpaw who was unbeaten before joining the UFC. He has fought five times in the UFC since his debut coming away with three wins. His last fight was a TKO of Dalcha Lungiambula in July 2021, which earned him a Performance of the Night bonus award. Primarily a striker, Soriano has 47% striking accuracy, with six of his nine wins coming from knockouts. But he is also a decent wrestler with a takedown accuracy of 57%.
It’s a good matchup. Weirdly, we have the same record, I think the last five fights we have the same record, so that’s kind of cool. But I’m excited you know he’s a cat from Russia and he’s good, I think he’s good everywhere. I’m just ready to test myself against him… As Dustin Poirier says, ‘By any means possible’… I always look for the finish but if I can squeak by with a split decision, I don’t care I’m just trying to get the win.
Punahele Soriano
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 30
- Height: 5’ 11”
- Weight: 185 Ib
- Reach: 72”
- Record: 9-2-0
Roman Kopylov
After a torrid start to his UFC career, the 31-year-old Russian Middleweight finally secured his first win in the promotion with a knockout (punches) of Alessio Di Chico at UFC Fight Night 209 - Gane vs. Tuivasa last September. Unbeaten before signing for the UFC, Kopylov faced tough love in the promotion with two consecutive losses against Karl Roberson and Albert Duraev. Fighting for the third time in four years in the UFC, the southpaw has a 44% striking accuracy and a 33% takedown accuracy. He has eight knockout wins from his nine fights.
Tale of the Tape
- Age: 31
- Height: 6’ 0”
- Weight: 185 Ib
- Reach: N/A
- Record: 9-2-0
Betting Odds
Punahele Soriano is the favorite going into the matchup. He is priced to win at 1.62 odds on Bet 365. A bet for a Roman Kopylov win goes for 2.30 odds, also on Bet 365. Looking to bet on how the fight will end,1xbet prices KO/TKO/DQ at 2.4 odds and a points victory at 2.4 odds. A punt that the fight will go the distance is available at 2.39 odds on Betway. Betting on the fight ending inside the distance is at 1.53 odds on Betway.