Cesar Almeida and Roman Kopylov squared off in a compelling middleweight clash on the preliminary card of UFC 302 on June 1, 2024, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. On paper, it promised a striking showcase between two dangerous kickboxers, but Kopylov mixed his stand-up with timely wrestling to edge out a split decision victory (29-28, 28-29, 30-27) after three competitive rounds.
The opening round began with both men respecting each other’s power. Almeida, the former Glory kickboxing standout, established range with sharp jabs, calf kicks, and straight right hands, while Kopylov answered with crisp combinations and feints. The striking exchanges were technical rather than reckless, with each fighter looking for openings instead of committing to prolonged brawls. Midway through the round, Kopylov changed the complexion of the fight by threatening takedowns, forcing Almeida to hesitate before throwing his combinations. The Russian eventually landed a heavy straight left that badly stunned Almeida, sending him reeling backward before closing the round with strong positional control after securing a takedown. It was the biggest moment of the fight and likely enough to earn Kopylov the first round.
Almeida responded well in the second frame. Growing more confident on the feet, he attacked Kopylov’s lead leg with damaging calf kicks and ripped hard kicks to the body. His boxing combinations became more fluid, and several clean right hands snapped Kopylov’s head back. Whenever the Russian attempted to shoot for takedowns, Almeida defended more effectively, forcing the action back into striking exchanges. Although Kopylov secured another late takedown and controlled portions of the final minute, Almeida’s cleaner and more damaging striking throughout much of the round convinced one judge—and many observers—that he had evened the contest heading into the final five minutes.
With the fight potentially tied, the third round became a battle between striking damage and positional control. Almeida continued to press forward behind powerful kicks and straight punches, looking to land the decisive shot that had eluded him all night. Kopylov, however, fought a disciplined tactical round. Rather than engaging in prolonged kickboxing exchanges, he repeatedly mixed in level changes, clinch work, and well-timed takedowns. Each time Almeida appeared to build momentum on the feet, Kopylov disrupted his rhythm by forcing grappling exchanges and controlling position against the fence or on the mat. Although Almeida landed several eye-catching strikes late in the fight, Kopylov’s ability to dictate where the contest took place proved crucial.
After fifteen closely contested minutes, the judges rendered a split decision in favor of Roman Kopylov. The victory snapped his previous loss and reaffirmed his status as a dangerous middleweight contender, while Almeida suffered the first defeat of his professional MMA career. The fight also demonstrated an important lesson for the decorated Brazilian striker: elite MMA requires more than world-class kickboxing, as Kopylov’s wrestling and tactical adaptability ultimately made the difference in an entertaining and competitive contest.