Brandon Royval seeks redemption and a chance to fill a personal void by challenging Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title at UFC 296, aiming to avenge his previous loss and capture the championship belt.
Brandon Royval is on a mission. UFC 296 is his battleground.
This Saturday, Royval steps into the octagon with Alexandre Pantoja. It’s a title fight, but for Royval, it’s personal. They’ve clashed before, with Pantoja winning by submission. Now, Royval’s eyeing redemption, not just the flyweight belt.
“It’s super surreal,” Royval admitted to Ariel Helwani on *The MMA Hour*. He’s in disbelief, right up until he faces his opponent. To him, the fight overshadows the title. “It’s cool,” he says, with a casual shrug.
Royval laughed, recalling others’ championship dreams on the show. “I’m just happy to be here, bro!” For him, it’s about settling a score with Pantoja. The belt? It’s secondary, yet still hard to ignore. “It’s been a wild journey,” he reflects.
Post-defeat, Royval’s been unstoppable. Three consecutive wins, two in the first round, have propelled him back to title contention. His dynamic performances have earned him multiple Fight of the Night honors. At 31, he’s pinpointed his past mistakes.
“Patience, man,” he muses. Royval’s learned to savor the fight, not rush it. He’s been reckless before, taking hits he didn’t need to. Now, he’s wiser, despite knowing Pantoja’s game inside out.
Excitement, however, is a double-edged sword. Royval knows his submission skills and knockout power make him thrilling to watch. But Pantoja’s proven he’s just as dangerous in a firefight.
Royval recalls their first fight. He thought he had it in the bag, only to watch victory slip away. One overzealous punch, and Pantoja had him. “Unnecessary risk,” Royval laments.
Pantoja’s been on a tear too. After submitting Royval, he choked out Alex Perez in record time. Then, he snatched the title from Brandon Moreno. Now, Royval is the challenger standing in his way.
Royval’s got a plan. “I wanna drop him and submit him,” he declares. He’s after more than just the win; he wants to even the score.
What’s next for Royval, should he claim the title? He ponders the sacrifices made, the jobs juggled, the relationships lost. He hopes the belt will fill a void, though he doubts it will. “It’s such a dumb thing,” he admits.
Royval’s always chasing something. Even if he wins the UFC belt, he wonders, what then? “I just hope it’s all worth it,” he says, almost to himself.
UFC 296 is set for this Saturday. The T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas will host the showdown. Royval’s moment of truth awaits.