In a thrilling and competitive UFC Vegas 98 main event, Brandon Royval defeated Tatsuro Taira by split decision in a fight that showcased their striking and grappling skills, earning widespread praise and likely securing a Fight of the Night bonus.
Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira gave the MMA world a masterclass. Seriously.
In one of 2024’s standout fights, these flyweight contenders displayed their full arsenal. Back-and-forth striking? Check. Thrilling ground scrambles? Double-check. Ultimately, Royval snagged a split decision victory at UFC Vegas 98’s main event.
Royval came in as the top-ranked UFC contender at 125 pounds, while Taira flaunted an impressive 16-0 record. Expectations were high, but they exceeded them. Post-fight, Royval lauded Taira as a future champ and made his case for another big fight soon.
Saturday’s headliner was stacked with MMA’s elite, and they couldn’t stop raving about Royval and Taira. A Fight of the Night bonus seems almost inevitable.
Check out some of the best social media reactions below.
Modern classic. Those boys were putting on a show.
— Andre Fili (@TouchyFili)
Royval wins 3-2. Great fight. Taira has a bright future but tonight belongs to Brandon Royval #UFCVegas98
— Henry Cejudo (@HenryCejudo)
Came down to the last round, royval dug deep. Sick fight
— Billy Quarantillo (@BillyQMMA)