TLDR
- Roman Kopylov and Gregory Rodrigues will fight in the middleweight division at UFC 322 on November 15 at Madison Square Garden
- Kopylov is ranked #15 in the middleweight division and coming off a unanimous decision loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 318
- Rodrigues bounced back from a fourth-round TKO loss to Jared Cannonier with a first-round knockout of Jack Hermansson at UFC 317
- The fight is expected to be violent with both fighters known for knockout power, having gone the distance only three times combined in 21 UFC appearances
- UFC 322 is headlined by title fights featuring Islam Makhachev vs Jack Della Maddalena and Weili Zhang vs Valentina Shevchenko
Roman Kopylov and Gregory Rodrigues will meet in a middleweight bout at UFC 322 on November 15 at Madison Square Garden in New York. The UFC announced the match-up as part of its annual card at the famous venue.
Kopylov holds the #15 spot in the middleweight rankings. The 34-year-old is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Paulo Costa at UFC 318 in July.
During Wednesday’s UFC 322 media day, Kopylov addressed his recent defeat. “It did not go my way, but it’s not something we’re going to put our heads down about,” he said.
Kopylov hinted that issues with the Costa fight may have affected his performance. The bout was rescheduled more than once before taking place.
“This time around, none of that was an issue,” Kopylov said. “We had a good camp, we got prepared, and hopefully just moving forward.”
The Russian fighter joined the UFC in 2019 with an unbeaten record. He lost his first two fights in the promotion.
Kopylov rebounded with a stoppage win over Alessio Di Chirico in 2022. That victory started a four-fight streak where he stopped all opponents with strikes.
His winning run ended with a loss to Anthony Hernandez at UFC 298. After back-to-back wins over Cesar Almeida and Chris Curtis, Kopylov fell to Costa.
Wrestling Could Play Key Role
Kopylov has struggled with takedown defense and clinch control throughout his UFC career. Rodrigues possesses strong wrestling skills that could exploit these weaknesses.
Rodrigues enters the fight with an 8-3 record in the UFC. The 33-year-old Brazilian is known for his knockout power but has faced setbacks during his promotional run.
“I'm so ready for this fight.”
Gregory Rodrigues (@gregory_mma) cannot wait to face Roman Kopylov in Madison Square Garden and hopes to put on a memorable performance. #VeChain #UFC322
Fight by Fight Preview ➡️: https://t.co/87hu3xthUQ pic.twitter.com/IzM6njOEGy
— UFC News (@UFCNews) November 12, 2025
The fighter nicknamed “Robocop” has experienced an up-and-down career pattern. Each time he strings together wins, a knockout loss derails his momentum toward title contention.
Rodrigues was riding a three-fight win streak before his February match with Jared Cannonier. That bout marked his first UFC main event slot.
Recent Form and Fight Style
Cannonier stopped Rodrigues in the fourth round of their “Fight of the Night” performance. The Brazilian bounced back at UFC 317 with a first-round knockout of Jack Hermansson.
His victory over Hermansson earned him a “Performance of the Night” bonus. Rodrigues had previously been ranked in the middleweight division.
The match-up between Kopylov and Rodrigues promises action for fans. Between them, the fighters have made 21 UFC appearances but have only gone to decision three times combined.
🇷🇺 Roman Kopylov (14-4-0) takes on 🇧🇷 Gregory Rodrigues (17-6-0) at the Madison Square Garden Theater on Nov 15, 2025
📍 MSG, New York, USA
📅 Nov 15, 2025
🔗 https://t.co/cK4XsRE2Jp@gregory_mma#MMA #UFC #UFCESPN #UFC2025 @danawhite @TheGarden #Kopylov pic.twitter.com/u1rC2dse4M— Champinon_Info (@Champinon_Info) September 17, 2025
Kopylov represents a more technical approach to fighting. Rodrigues tends to engage in brawling exchanges during his matches.
UFC 322 features two title fights at the top of the card. Islam Makhachev challenges Jack Della Maddalena while Weili Zhang faces Valentina Shevchenko.
Both champions are attempting to win their second UFC titles in different weight classes. The UFC traditionally loads its Madison Square Garden cards with high-profile fights.
The Kopylov versus Rodrigues bout could be a candidate for “Fight of the Night” honors based on both fighters’ styles.
