LAS VEGAS – Brandon Royval refuses to be a stepping stone for rising flyweight contenders.
Royval (17-9 MMA, 7-5 UFC) takes on Lone’er Kavanagh (10-1 MMA, 3-1 UFC) on Saturday’s UFC 329 main card at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas (Paramount+).
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The former title challenger is coming off back-to-back losses to current champion Joshua Van, and Manel Kape. His battle with Van at UFC 317 won both Fight of the Night and Fight of the Year. Kavanagh upset former champ Brandon Moreno in his first main event at UFC Fight Night 268, which immediately set up his fight with Royval.
“I could see it coming,” Royval said during Wednesday’s UFC 329 pre-fight news conference. “As soon as that fight was over, I’m like, I’m sure they’re going to present this next. I actually thought I had a fight in place and then he won that fight, and they were like, ‘Actually, this is the fight we’re going to make.’ So it’s kind of how it unfolded. I knew we were fighting probably the next day after he won that fight, so yeah, they made that fight quick.”
Royval managed to hand Tatsuro Taira his first-career loss, so fighting a surging contender isn’t an unfamiliar spot for him.
“I’ve always been this way, but I take everything personal,” Royval said. “This is personal. This is someone trying to take my spot. I’ve been in the top five in this division for maybe like three of four years. I don’t really know, but most of my UFC career I’ve been in the top five, and I take it personally that they are trying to push me out. It’s my job to make a statement and stay in there.”
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With six bonuses to his name, Royval may not be happy with drawing Kavanagh, but he is certain that the matchup will deliver.
“They made this fight to be exciting, and that is what’s going to happen,” Royval said. “There’s a reason they booked this fight so far out and right after he won. This is an exciting fight to make, and this is what they want, this is why I get paid, and this is why I’m here. The opportunity is to fill my pocket full of cash, and make a statement, and put on another high-level, high-performance, and fight.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Brandon Royval: Kavanagh fight personal, UFC ‘trying to push me out’ of rankings
