WeBeatTheSpread's Premium Punahele Soriano vs. Roman Kopylov Pick
Ben Rajavuori is here with a UFC Fight Night premium pick between Punahele Soriano vs. Roman Kopylov. Come check it out with his premium bet!
Ben Rajavuori - January 14, 2023, 5:20 PM EST
4 minWeBeatTheSpread's Premium Punahele Soriano vs. Roman Kopylov Pick
Punahele Soriano and Roman Kopylov are two highly-touted prospects set to face off in the UFC. Both men are known for their striking abilities, and both have knockout power. Interestingly enough, both are also southpaws, which should give us a fun matchup on the feet in this fight. The books are favoring Soriano in this fight, as he is -150 to get it done in the octagon tonight.
Punahele Soriano is a Hawaiian fighter with a professional record of 9-2. He is a well-rounded fighter with a background in boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. He has a solid chin and is able to take punches well. Hawaiians are notorious for being tough fighters that don't go down, and Soriano has lived up to the name, as he has not been stopped once in his career. He is also a strong wrestler, although he does not use it often. He is considered a prospect with a lot of potential and a victory in this fight could help propel him to a higher level of competition. Soriano is fighting in his sixth UFC fight, and he has four wins in the promotion so far. He hit a snag in 2021, losing back-to-back fights against Brendan Allen and Nick Maximov, but he rebounded last time out with a knockout win over Dalcha Lungiambula.
Roman Kopylov is a Russian mixed martial artist with a professional record of 9-2. He is a highly skilled striker with a background in boxing and kickboxing. He is known for his power and has a reputation for being a knockout artist, as he has eight knockout wins in eleven fights and nine wins. Like Soriano, he is considered a prospect with a lot of potential, and a victory in this fight will prove he can step up to the next level. Also like Soriano, Kopylov hit a snag early in his UFC career. Kopylov is three fights deep in his UFC tenure, and he dropped the first two bouts against Karl Roberson and Albert Duraev. Kopylov then rebounded with a win over Alessio Di Chirico last time out to get his first UFC win. This will be a tough matchup for him against Soriano.
Kopylov will likely be the quicker striker in this fight, but he stalls too long on the feet at times and does not throw enough volume. He likes to wait for his opportunities to present themselves instead of creating his own. It can be good to be patient, but you have to create your own offense too, and not stall and wade. Soriano is a very durable fighter who will not be cracked easily, and I expect Soriano to be the more active fighter tonight. Soriano may have to weather an early storm, but I expect him to lay it on in the second and third rounds and may even find a finish.
- Punahele Soriano ML @ -150 (Bet $100 to collect $160)
