Brandon Royval secured a split decision victory over Tatsuro Taira at UFC Vegas 98, maintaining his position as a top contender and aiming for another title shot, potentially against Alexandre Pantoja or Kai Asakura.
Brandon Royval is holding firm in his position as a top contender. Now, he’s eyeing what he believes is rightfully his.
“Raw Dawg” notched up his second consecutive win on Saturday. He secured a thrilling split decision victory over Tatsuro Taira at UFC Vegas 98. These top-10 flyweights battled fiercely for 25 minutes, with Royval’s experience shining through in the end.
Since his loss to UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in February, Royval has bounced back impressively. He’s defeated the previously unbeaten Taira and two-time titleholder Brandon Moreno. Another shot at the championship seems tantalizingly close. If it comes, Royval promises a more spirited performance this time.
“I’m going balls to the wall,” declared Royval at the post-fight press conference. “I trust my pace and cardio. A fifth-round Raw Dawg is dangerous.” He added, “If I face Pantoja again—maybe I shouldn’t spill my secrets—but I’m going straight after him.”
Eight months ago, against Pantoja, Royval was uncharacteristically timid and lost by unanimous decision. Before that, he was known for his intensity and aggression, with 12 of his first 16 wins by knockout or submission. He’s also bagged three Fight of the Night bonuses—adding another one last Saturday.
Royval consistently faces top-tier competition since his UFC debut in 2020. Considering his track record, he believes a title shot can’t be denied.
“I see a title shot next,” Royval confidently stated. “I’ve beaten the whole top 5 of the division.” He continued, “I took a short-notice fight against No. 1 and just beat the hottest prospect. A title shot is next for me.”
The December 7 title fight will see Pantoja defend his flyweight championship against Kai Asakura in UFC 310’s co-main event. Asakura made waves in RIZIN and boasts notable victories over Kyoji Horiguchi and Bellator standout Juan Archuleta.
Royval admires Asakura and thinks he could dethrone Pantoja but won’t be shocked if Pantoja retains and fights him a third time.
“I’ve been watching Kai Asakura for a while,” said Royval. “He’s sick—brings excitement to the division.” Yet, he warned, “If Pantoja grapples him, it’s over.” But remember: fights start on their feet.