Brandon Royval is gearing up for what could be a monumental showdown with Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title at UFC 301, set to take place in Brazil this coming May.
Last weekend, Royval secured a career-defining victory as he clinched a split decision win over Brandon Moreno in the main event of UFC Mexico City, a fight he entered on short notice. Fuelled by this triumph, ‘Raw Dawg’ wasted no time in calling for a trilogy bout with Pantoja, signaling his readiness for a swift turnaround.
However, just days after his triumph, Royval took to social media to disclose that he likely suffered a torn MCL in the opening round of the fight against Moreno. Despite this setback, he remained undeterred, emphasizing his underdog spirit in a Facebook post:
“From public enemy number 1 to number 1 contender. Came off the couch for a short notice fight against a former champion in his hometown. Most likely tore my MCL in the first minute of the fight. Hate it or love it though the underdogs on top.”
But Royval’s resilience shone through when he later announced that his knee had been cleared, affirming his commitment to compete at UFC 301:
“Knees cleared, beat the #1 ranked fighter on short notice in his own country. I’m not getting held down ever again. UFC 301 is a go for me.”
While Royval appears primed for the challenge, uncertainties loom over whether he’ll indeed secure the next title shot.
Despite being cleared to fight, his past encounters with Pantoja, where he suffered a submission defeat and a decisive loss for the belt in December, raise questions about his prospects.
Undefeated prospect Muhammad Mokaev’s aspirations for a title shot with a victory over Alex Perez at UFC Vegas 87 further muddy the waters. However, Royval remains skeptical of Mokaev’s claims, suggesting that defeating someone outside the current UFC roster holds limited significance:
“No disrespect to anyone but a win over someone who hasn’t beat a current UFC fighter on the roster doesn’t mean much.”
Currently ranked as the top flyweight contender, Royval boasts a professional record of 16 wins and 7 losses, with a UFC record of 6 wins and 3 losses. Notable victories include knockout triumphs over Matheus Nicolau, a submission win against Matt Schnell, and a submission victory over Tim Elliott. As he braces for a potential title clash, Royval’s journey epitomizes the grit and determination of an underdog destined for greatness.
