Paulo Costa Rebounds with Decisive Win Over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318

By Ali Hammad July 22, 2025 11:54

At UFC 318 on July 19, 2025, Paulo Costa put an emphatic halt to a rough patch in his career by earning a unanimous decision victory over Roman Kopylov in the co-main event in New Orleans. This win marked Costa’s first since 2022 and signaled a potential resurgence for the Brazilian powerhouse as he looks to climb back into the middleweight title conversation.

From the outset, Costa showcased a renewed aggression reminiscent of his earlier, dominant days. Known as “The Eraser,” Costa wasted no time asserting control in the opening round, leveraging precise striking and pressure to dictate the pace. His sharp right hand floored Kopylov late in the first round, reflecting both power and timing and setting the tone for the fight. Kopylov, who entered the bout riding an impressive six-fight winning streak and was favored to break into the top 10, looked rattled early but fought valiantly to stay competitive throughout the three-round contest.

Costa carried his momentum into the second round, continuing to outland Kopylov with a varied striking arsenal. He mixed heavy leg kicks, crisp combinations, and calculated forward movement to keep the Russian grappling specialist at bay. Costa’s style had evolved less reckless and more calculated displaying efficiency that had been missing in some of his recent outings. Despite some moments of fatigue in the third round, Costa maintained the upper hand, landing more than twice the strikes of his opponent over the full contest.

The unanimous decision scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28 reflected Costa’s clear dominance. All media scorecards agreed, and fan scoring heavily favored the Brazilian. UFC analyst Kenny Florian praised the performance, calling it “a career-saving win” that showcased Costa rediscovering the aggressive, relentless mentality that made him a feared championship contender earlier in his career.

Following the fight, Costa spoke candidly about the changes that fueled his turnaround. “I had to rethink my approach,” he said during the post-fight press conference. “After some tough losses to guys like Whittaker and Strickland, I was too cautious bouncing and countering instead of being the bully I’m supposed to be. My coaches helped me refocus on pressure, aggression, and fight control. Tonight was a statement that I’m back.”

Costa didn’t hide his ambitions looking forward. True to his word from UFC 318 media day, he threw down a gauntlet, calling out Khamzat Chimaev one of the UFC’s hottest rising stars whom he accused of disrespecting him through social media. “I want this fight very badly. It’s personal now,” Costa declared, hinting at a high-stakes showdown that could draw major attention in the middleweight division.

While calling out Chimaev might seem optimistic given Costa’s current outside-the-top-10 UFC ranking and Chimaev’s imminent title shot against Dricus Du Plessis, the Brazilian’s win reignites conversations about his potential as a top contender. Kopylov, meanwhile, posted a respectful message on social media acknowledging Costa’s superiority that night and signaling he remains hungry to rebound.

In sum, Paulo Costa’s decisive victory over Roman Kopylov at UFC 318 was a vital turning point in his career. With striking sharpness restored and a new mindset driving his aggression, Costa looks poised to reassert his relevance in one of MMA’s most competitive divisions. Whether or not he secures a fight with Chimaev next, this performance sends a clear message: Paulo Costa is far from finished.