Chris Curtis won’t apologize for post-fight antics, declares night a ‘failure’ despite $200,000 bonus
American middleweight Chris Curtis declares UFC Vegas 101 TKO loss to Roman Kopylov a failed effort, despite bonus payment.
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Chris Curtis opts not to apologize in post-fight IG statement, after UFC Vegas 101 (Source: X/IG)
After a couple of hours for the result to sink in, Chris Curtis said he was not hurting. But mentally, his last-second TKO loss to Roman Kopylov snubbed the action out of “Action Man” Curtis. Controversy struck UFC Vegas 101 on Saturday when Roman Kopylov stunned him.
After getting their licks in for 15 minutes, Roman Kopylov dropped Curtis with a head kick in the final seconds! He was down, and balanced it out on the tip of his knuckles. Referee Mark Smith saw a stunned ‘Inaction’ man Curtis and waved it off. The American fighter and many viewers didn’t agree with the stoppage; now he doubles down on it in a defunct IG post.
Only job in the world where you can make 200k in a night and still be absolutely heartbroken and questioning where you go from here. No damage, I’m fine. Probably train tomorrow for my sanity but just frustrated and heartbroken…I guess I should take some comfort in fight of the night, but I only view tonight as a failure. Maybe 170 is the way to go from here…thanks again to @mickmaynard2 for the opportunity to do what I love…
Chris Curtis in a now-deleted IG post (@actionman513)
Upto that second, the duo had quite the striking clinic going on. The Team Xtreme Couture orthodox was on point with shelled-up side-to-side loose strikes, akin to Francis Ngannou and Sean Strickland. He even grazed the rival on his right brow, bleeding him in R2. But Kopylov answered in kind and range, and with his signature kicks.
The time of the stoppage for the UFC Vegas 101 scrapper was 4:59 of Round 3. Curtis protested that he wasn’t knocked out, but there was one more second anyway. He wouldn’t get to mount a counter-offense. It looked like one-a-piece, but the cards had Kopylov up 2-0 from two and 1-1 from a third judge.
WITH ONE SECOND TO GO 🤯
— UFC (@ufc) January 12, 2025
Roman Kopylov gets the TKO in the last second of round 3! #UFCVegas101 pic.twitter.com/OtDjEnz8oO
Prone to a sizzling slugfest, the bout earned Curtis an extra $50,000 for UFC Vegas 101 FOTN Bonus. That is on top of what he said was a $200,000 payday for the loss. In retrospect, he was less angry with Smith, but still found the discourse in bad taste. Having toggled between welterweight and 185 pounds a decade ago, he even wants a shift down again.
Roman Kopylov explains why win over Chris Curtis was no fluke or controversial
Kopylov doesn’t really get all the controversy behind his UFC Vegas 101 TKO victory. A win is a win, and he mounted all the effort into it. While opponent Chris Curtis and many viewers didn’t agree with Mark Smith’s stoppage, he saw no harm and foul.
Post-fight, Roman Kopylov told in-ring interviewer Michael Bisping that his head-kick had starched off the rival. But he knew “The Action Man” was also a family man. Hence, the Russian striker didn’t opt for more hammer fists, pounds, or range shots. Backstage, he doubled down on it.
I think that everything was fair, …I think the referee did his job. I think that kick was enough. He fell to the canvas. There was no reason to finish him. I think he did the job.
Roman Kopylov through a translator during UFC Vegas 101 post-fight backstage fighter interviews
While rejecting the idea that the stoppage was a mistake, Kopylov indicated that he’d like to replay it. Moreover, whether it’s Curtis or someone else, Kopylov hopes to return sometime in the second quarter of 2025 after his routine medical suspension. UFC Vegas 101 official clinical suspensions are not out yet. But he did get a heads-up 45 days mandatory suspension (30 days no contact).
Roman Kopylov suffered a pretty gnarly gash vs. Chris Curtis, per Dana White’s IG stories #UFCVegas101 pic.twitter.com/dL9U4pBPOR
— Nolan King (@mma_kings) January 12, 2025
Dana White even posted gnarly cut images from his scuffle with Chris Curtis. UFC Vegas 101 took home UFC Promotional Guidelines Compliance pay totaling $173,500. The Russian fighter earned $6,000 in compliance pay, and $50,000 for what looked like was leading to a decision win for his clinic. Come the later part of 2025, he means to keep the momentum going for a 4th career bonus.
Related: ‘Scumbag’ Russian fighter ripped by Sean Strickland’s teammate for inserting spies in camp
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