Marco Tulio has undergone two surgeries to reconstruct his forehead bone following a knockout loss, but the Brazilian middleweight insists he's stepping into UFC 328 without a shred of fear. Facing Roman Kopylov this Saturday night in Newark, Tulio is ready to prove that adversity only sharpens a fighter's edge.

The Chute Boxe representative suffered a knockout defeat to Christian Leroy Duncan in November 2025, a setback that required extensive medical procedures. Yet, rather than dwelling on the trauma, Tulio focused on recovery and preparation. "Camp has been smoother than the last one," he told MMA Fighting. "I had a pretty complicated hand surgery during the previous camp because of a prior procedure, so I was more limited. This time, I trained with protective headgear until the recovery period was complete. Once everything was fine, I took it off and moved on."

Tulio spent several weeks away from his Sao Paulo gym after the surgeries. When asked about the psychological hurdle of taking punches to a reconstructed forehead, he dismissed the concern with the confidence of a lifelong striker. "I'm used to it," he said. "I've been in wars since I was 9 years old, getting into street fights. Now I'm fighting the best in the world—that's never been a fear for me."

Before the Duncan loss, Tulio was on a tear, boasting a 4-0 UFC record with three knockouts, including two standout performances on Dana White's Contender Series. Now, he's channeling that momentum into a comeback. Part of his preparation has involved training with jiu-jitsu legend Demian Maia, a move designed to round out his game. "Demian needs no introduction," Tulio said. "His history, the way he brought jiu-jitsu to the world and showed an absurd level inside the UFC against the best guys—every class with him feels like a seminar. Every adjustment he makes suddenly seems simple. Training with someone of that caliber gives you a completely different view of the game. I'm sure there's a chance for some Demian magic to show up."

Kopylov enters the bout with a 6-5 promotional record, with all but one of his wins coming by knockout. But Tulio isn't banking on a stand-up war. "I wouldn't be surprised if he tries to take me down," he said, acknowledging that Kopylov might shift strategy. Whatever the approach, Tulio is ready. "We did our homework," he added. "I adapted to adversity, and now it's time to get back on track."