Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira went head-to-head in a flyweight battle that will be remembered as one of the most exciting fights of the year. In a back-and-forth contest that showcased their contrasting skills, Royval managed to secure a hard-fought split decision victory, reminding the UFC brass that he’s ready for another shot at the title.
Royval, a former title challenger, came into the fight with a 17-7 record, while his opponent, the rising Japanese star Tatsuro Taira, held an impressive 16-1 record. Despite the odds, the veteran Royval showed his experience and resilience, especially in the final round, which helped him edge out Taira. The fight, which featured both striking and grappling, kept fans on the edge of their seats from start to finish. In the end, two judges scored the fight 48-47 in favour of Royval, while the third had it 48-47 for Taira.
After the bout, Royval didn’t hold back in his admiration for his younger opponent:
“I thought I was going to take him to school, I’ll be honest,” Royval said. “I thought that wasn’t even going to be a close fight. I thought that would be over in the first round.” However, the fight was anything but easy, and Royval walked away with a new respect for Taira:
“Humble lessons learned. That kid is going to be a f—ing champion and I swear to God, I will do anything to help him get that one day.”
Brandon Royval Secures Gritty Split Decision Victory Over Tatsuro Taira
The first round saw Royval controlling the fight with his striking, keeping the bout on the feet where he had a clear advantage. His quick combinations and jabs were enough to expose Taira’s lack of head movement, giving Royval an early edge. But as the fight progressed, Taira started to display his own skills, particularly on the ground. In Round 2, the Japanese prospect dominated with his grappling, taking Royval down and controlling him throughout, reminding everyone why he’s considered one of the most promising young fighters in the division.
Round 3 raised the stakes, and the bout soon entered “Fight of the Year” territory. Royval turned up the heat with his striking, landing several combinations that left Taira’s nose bloodied. It looked like Royval was on the verge of a finish, but Taira, refusing to give in, managed to get a takedown and even took Royval’s back, threatening with a choke as the round came to an end.
The pendulum swung once again in Round 4. Taira’s grappling was once more on display as he controlled Royval on the ground, draining his energy with dominant positions. But despite the fatigue, Royval wasn’t done yet. He came out in Round 5 with a renewed sense of urgency, showcasing improved takedown defence and a relentless drive to win. His efforts in the final round proved crucial, allowing him to secure the narrow victory.
Royval Wants Title Opportunity
For Royval, the win marked his second consecutive victory after avenging a loss to former champion Brandon Moreno earlier in the year. With this victory, Royval has beaten all of the top fighters in the division and is now making a strong case for a title shot. “I have a winner over everyone in the top five. I should get that title shot next,” Royval said passionately. “That’s the only f—ing discussion. I beat everybody in the top five of that f—ing division. Who the f— else?”
On the other hand, the loss was a tough pill to swallow for Taira, who tasted defeat for the first time in seven UFC appearances. At just 24 years old, however, Taira has plenty of time to learn and grow, and his performance in this fight suggests he will continue to be a force in the flyweight division.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
