Roman Kopylov vs Claudio Ribeiro UFC 291 7/29/2023 Analysis, Game Tips and Picks
On Saturday, July 29, 2023, UFC 291 will feature a Middleweight bout between Claudio Ribeiro and Roman Kopylov. Kopylov’s betting odds stand at -220, while Ribeiro’s is at +180.
Roman Kopylov is a Russian mixed martial artist competing in the UFC’s Middleweight division. At 31 years old, he holds an impressive professional MMA record of 10-2-0. In his most recent UFC Fight Night appearance on Saturday, January 14, 2023, Kopylov faced Punahele Soriano and secured a victory via KO/TKO. His outstanding performance earned him the Middleweight Performance of the Night bonus. Kopylov is on a two-bout winning streak and boasts a remarkable 90% finish rate, with nine knockouts and one decision win out of his ten victories.
Roman Kopylov is determined to continue improving his career record, aiming to add more wins to his impressive 10-2-0 record. Standing at 6’0″ tall and weighing 185 pounds, the 32-year-old fighter is a Southpaw with a 75-inch reach. Claudio Ribeiro, on the other hand, is 6’1″ tall and weighs 185 lbs. Ribeiro holds a record of 11-3-0 and 77-inch reach as an orthodox boxer.
Roman Kopylov vs Claudio Ribeiro UFC 291 7/29/2023 Analysis, Game Tips and Picks
Regarding striking statistics, Claudio Ribeiro connects on an average of 4.22 significant strikes per minute, slightly lower than Roman Kopylov’s 4.54 significant strikes per minute. Ribeiro has a higher accuracy, landing 60% of his significant strikes, while Kopylov connects with 50% of his. On the defensive side, Ribeiro allows an average of 2.39 significant strikes per minute, while Kopylov absorbs 3.96. Ribeiro manages to block 38% of the significant strikes thrown at him, whereas Kopylov successfully blocks 60% of the significant strikes aimed at him by his opponents.
| UFC 291 | Roman Kopylov | Claudio Ribeiro |
| Opening Odds | -220 | +180 |
| Record | 10-2-0 | 11-3-0 |
| Average Fight Time | 12:07 | 4:45 |
| Height | 6’0″ | 6’1″ |
| Weight | 185 lbs | 185 lbs |
| Reach | 75″ | 77″ |
| Strikes Landed Per Minute | 4.54 | 4.22 |
| Striking Accuracy | 50% | 60% |
Roman Kopylov needs to improve wrestling proficiency, scoring only 0.62 takedowns per 15 minutes. He completes 50% of his takedown attempts while also thwarting 89% of the takedowns his opponents try. In comparison, Ribeiro is more effective in wrestling, finishing 85% of his takedown attempts and stopping 75% of takedowns attempted by his opponents. However, when it comes to submission attempts, Kopylov excels as he goes for 0.9 submissions per 15 minutes, proving to be a more skilled technician than Ribeiro, who attempts 0.4 submissions per 3 rounds.
In his most recent Octagon appearance, Roman Kopylov faced Punahele Soriano and secured a victory in the second round with a kick to the body. Soriano managed to land 39 out of 107 total strikes thrown in that fight, resulting in a 36% success rate. Out of 101 significant strikes aimed at the head, he connected with 35. On the other hand, Kopylov displayed better striking accuracy, landing 82 out of 128 total strikes, with a 64% success rate. He connected with 56 out of 101 significant strikes aimed at the head. Notably, both fighters primarily struck from a distance, with 84% of Soriano’s substantial strikes and 92% of Kopylov’s significant strikes occurring at range.
In Claudio Ribeiro’s last Octagon appearance, he faced Joseph Holmes and secured a victory in the second round with a punch to the head while on the ground. Holmes had a higher success rate in significant strikes from a distance, landing 76% of them, while Ribeiro managed to connect with only 27% of his considerable strikes attempted from a distance. However, Ribeiro demonstrated better striking accuracy overall, connecting with 58% of his significant strikes and landing 37 out of 63 attempts. Specifically, he landed 34 out of 57 significant strikes directed at the head. In comparison, Holmes landed 17 out of 24 significant strikes, with 4 out of 10 directed at the head.
As for Claudio Ribeiro’s background, he is a 30-year-old male fighter from Brazil with an impressive professional MMA record of 10-2-0. In his most recent appearance at the Contender Series on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, he faced Iván Valenzuela in the Middleweight division. He secured a victory via KO/TKO in just 25 seconds of Round 1. Ribeiro boasts a 100% finish rate, with all 10 of his wins coming by knockout, and he is currently on a six-fight win streak.
Roman Kopylov vs Claudio Ribeiro. Roman Kopylov is favored in this matchup due to his impressive striking accuracy and strong takedown defense, which increase his likelihood of dictating the pace and evading Claudio Ribeiro’s takedown attempts. However, it is essential to recognize Ribeiro’s aggressive striking approach and 100% takedown accuracy, which could threaten Kopylov’s game plan. Considering both fighters’ strengths and weaknesses, our prediction for this bout is that Roman Kopylov will secure a hard-earned victory. Despite Ribeiro being a formidable opponent, Kopylov’s technical expertise and experience will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of this matchup.
Prediction: Roman Kopylov -255
Location: Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah
Date: Saturday, July 29, 2023
Main Card: 10:00 PM ET
Prelims: 8:00 PM ET
Watch on: ESPN and ESPN+
