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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun and Ken Hathaway

Roman Kopylov: Punahele Soriano has great standup, UFC Fight Night 217 bout ‘could end at any second’

LAS VEGAS – Roman Kopylov doesn’t expect his fight with Punahele Soriano to last too long.

Middleweights Kopylov (9-2 MMA, 1-2 UFC) and Soriano (9-2 MMA, 3-2 UFC) square off on Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 217 main card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas. The card streams on ESPN+.

Kopylov earned his first octagon win when he scored a third-round TKO of Alessio Di Chirico this past September in Paris. The Russian finisher sees Soriano’s style making for an exciting fight.

“He’s got great standup, he keeps coming, and I think that’s what we should do,” Kopylov told MMA Junkie and other reporters through an interpreter at Wednesday’s media day. “We should keep standing with him and show the fans an exciting fight. That’s exactly what they’re expecting.”

He continued, “I think the fight could end at any second. I think we’re gonna show a great show.”

Watch the video of Kopylov’s complete pre-fight media availability above.

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 217.

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