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The action is heating up at UFC 302: Makhachev vs. Poirier as we're set to bring you a betting prediction and pick for the Featured Prelim bout taking place in the Middleweight (185) Division. Brazilian newcomer Cesar Almeida will square off against Russia's Roman Kopylov in an exciting bout to ring-in the Main Card. Check out our UFC odds series for our Almeida-Kopylov prediction and pick.
Cesar Almeida (5-0) will be making his second appearance in the UFC following a successful debut against Dylan Budka. Following his decision win on Dana White's Contender Series, he debuted with an exciting bout and a second-round knockout of his opponent. Unbeaten, he now comes in as the betting favorite against a strong second opponent. Almeida stands 6'1″ with a 74-inch reach.
Roman Kopylov (12-3) has gone 4-3 inside the UFC since 2019. He lost his last bout to Anthony Hernandez via rear naked choke, but he was riding a four-fight winning streak leading up to that. Now, he faces a willing kickboxer and will look to get back into the rankings with a win here. Kopylov stands 6'0″ with a 75-inch reach.
Here are the UFC 302 Odds, courtesy of BetOnline.
UFC 302 Odds: Cesar Almeida-Roman Kopylov Odds
Cesar Almeida: -124
Roman Kopylov: +104
Over 2.5 rounds: -105
Under 2.5 rounds: -125
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Why Cesar Almeida Will Win
Cesar Almeida comes into this second UFC bout with a ton of confidence and success through his debut and DWCS performances. He's a classically-trained kickboxer who made the transition to MMA very early. Before facing Contender Series competition, he ended all of his fights via KO in the first round. He's a fearless puncher and does a great job over covering his head during his entries. He doesn't like to mix it up on the ground and he boast a 62% takedown defense, so we should expect to see this fight on the feet for most of the three rounds.
Cesar Almeida has tremendous power and quickness behind his punches, which will serve him well when striking in the pocket with Kopylov. Kopylov is willing to walk forward and press the action, while Almeida finds success as a counter-puncher and knockout specialist. Look for him to circle around the outside and remain in perpetual movement as he looks to find the opening in Kopylov's defense.
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Why Roman Kopylov Will Win
Roman Kopylov just recently rode an impressive four-fight winning streak that saw him notch four consecutive knockouts, including a head kick KO and a liver-shot KO. He, too, is a terrifying striker and can quickly shut the lights out if he lands one of his combinations cleanly. Kopylov is also very active with his kicking game and while Almeida is a seasoned kickboxer, he hasn't faced any sort of adversity on that front in the UFC. Look for Roman Kopylov to put the pressure on him and make him work against much better competition than he's used to.
Roman Kopylov has been susceptible to the submission finishes in the past, but he won't have to worry about defending takedowns during this fight. In fact, while he's not much of a grappler, Kopylov could have the wrestling advantage here simply due to his experience against a wide range of opponents. Either way, look for Kopylov to press forward and force Almeida to make quick decisions while on his back heels.
Final Cesar Almeida-Roman Kopylov Prediction & Pick
The Featured Prelim bout of UFC 302 is a great one and given both fighters' abilities in the striking game, we should see a classic kickboxing match throughout this fight. Neither fighter looks like they'll be changing levels and taking this fight to the ground, so it'll be all about who can manage the distance more efficiently and limit their damage.
Cesar Almeida is certainly the scarier fighter here with his aggressiveness and ability to end the fight with one punch. However, he's still early into his MMA career and he may struggle against a veteran like Roman Kopylov. Kopylov has face much better opponents in the past and this shouldn't be an unfamiliar look for him in terms of what Cesar Almeida can do.
For our prediction, we have to side with the more experienced and proven fighter in Roman Kopylov. He's faced some serious adversity in the octagon and his experience will carry him far in shutting down Almeida's offense here. Let's roll with him as the slight underdog as he finds a gritty win.
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Final Cesar Almeida-Roman Kopylov Prediction & Pick: Roman Kopylov (+104)
