Andrei Kopylov
| Andrei Kopylov | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Russian |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 264 lb (120 kg; 18.9 st) |
| Division | Heavyweight |
| Team | Russian Top Team |
| Years active | 1992 - 2002 |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 15 |
| Wins | 5 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Losses | 10 |
| By knockout | 3 |
| By submission | 3 |
| By decision | 4 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Andrei Kopylov is a retired Russian sambist and mixed martial artist. He competed in the heavyweight division of Fighting Network RINGS. He lost his last fight at PRIDE 22 - Beasts From The East 2 against Mario Sperry on September 29, 2002.
Andrei practised various sports from the age of 17, among them basketball, volleyball and boxing, but he turned to sambo after he was introduced to his girlfriend's father, who was a sambo master. Kopylov started training with the renowned Alexander Fedorov and mastered the grappling in a short time, once even submitting his own teacher in a contest. After three months, he was sent to the national junior championships of 1983, in which he won a silver medal. He also won a bronze medal, and in 1985 he finally gained the gold. In 1986, he reached the finals of the USSR championship, being eliminated at the end by the eventual champion, Rotsyavichusom. However, Kopylov obtained revenge over him by beating him in three minutes at the national champion in 1987, ending himself in second place. In 1991, he moved to superheavyweight division, which turned successful for him as he won the USSR championship at that weight in 1991. The same year, after failed plans to move to Canada, he was contacted by Japanese pro wrestling promotion Fighting Network RINGS, and after he accepted, he was sent to the team RINGS Russia, where he met Volk Han, his future partner in the Russian Top Team.
Kopylov debuted in pro wrestling in 1992, obtaining a great submission win over Volk Han. Han retaliated eliminating Kopylov from the Mega Battle Tournament 1995, in which Andrei had taken part after submitting Grom Zaza, but he remained as an important figure in RINGS, having matches with promotion chairman Akira Maeda and his apprentice Tsuyoshi Kohsaka. Kopylov became popular among the Japanese for his anodine looks, featuring moustache, a receding hairline and an unathletic looking build, but those weren't obstacle for his grappling prowess.
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