LAS VEGAS – Roman Kopylov was taken aback when Chris Curtis accused him of spying ahead of UFC Fight Night 249, but he’s now relieved that the misunderstanding has been resolved.
Before Saturday’s middleweight matchup at the UFC Apex (ESPN+), veteran fighter Curtis (31-11 MMA, 5-3 UFC) used social media to claim that two unidentified fighters entered his gym at Xtreme Couture to train, only to show up at another training center with Kopylov (13-3 MMA, 5-3 UFC) shortly afterward.
Soon enough, however, Curtis publicly clarified that the entire situation was a misunderstanding, retracting his previous statement. Kopylov, who holds no grudges about the incident, mentioned that Curtis also extended a private apology to him.
“I was quite surprised,” Kopylov shared through an interpreter with MMA Junkie and other media outlets during Wednesday’s media day. “I’m not usually involved in such things, so I was confused about the accusation. But later, I met Chris in the locker room at the UFC PI while I was training. He approached me to apologize, admitting he was wrong and that he had made a mistake. He also posted a retraction on Instagram thereafter.”
With the misunderstanding cleared up, Kopylov is now able to concentrate fully on the fight. This match carries significance as he aims to build on his split decision victory over Cesar Almeida at UFC 302 in June, which helped him recover after a submission loss to Anthony Hernandez in February had halted his four-fight knockout streak.
Curtis represents the most seasoned opponent Kopylov has faced so far in his career, but Kopylov believes that the matchup plays to his stylistic strengths, and he’s confident in securing a win.
“I’ve watched a lot of his fights, and he seems to stick to a consistent plan. He usually fights standing up and maintains a strong stance as a good striker. I think it’s going to be an exciting fight because neither of us are known for wrestling, making it a striking contest that promises to be entertaining,” Kopylov remarked.
For more details on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub dedicated to UFC Fight Night 249.
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