In a fight that could produce the next flyweight title challenger, top-ranked contender Brandon Royval returned to the main event spotlight at UFC Vegas 98 on Saturday night for a high-stakes scrap with undefeated Japanese sensation Tatsuro Taira.
Round 1
Royval throws a high kick early and follows it up with another. Taira gets his offense started with a calf kick. Royval throws a kick that Taira catches and immediately shoots for a takedown. Royval gets his back to the fence and fights Taira off. Back in the center of the Octagon, Taira lands a solid uppercut and goes back to the lead leg attack. Royval throws another head kick that glances off the face of Taira.
Royval lands a nice jab during a mid-round exchange and Taira is showing a little redness around the nose. Royval lands a solid body kick. Royval appears to be the faster fighter, landing a one-two that snaps Taira’s head back. Royval is landing his jab at will Royval lands a left followed by a body kick. Royval stumbles during an exchange and Taira takes advantage, taking Royval’s back and dragging him down to the mat. Royval immediately starts working on a knee bar, but Taira urgently gets out, allowing Royval back to his feet. The round ends with Royval advancing, but unable to throw anything before the horn.
Round 2
Royval opens the round with a body kick but eats a right hand from Taira. Royval goes right back to the body and Taira comes right back with a right hand. Not wasting any time, Taira shoots in and scores a takedown. Taira immediately takes Royval’s back and momentarily flattens him out. Royval scrambles but is unable to escape as Taira locks in the body triangle while fishing for a rear-naked choke.
Royval rolls his way over to the fence but is unable to shake Taira off his back as we reach the three-minute mark of the second stanza. Royval nearly works his way up, but Taira’s smothering style keeps him on the mat until the final 10 seconds of the round.
Round 3
Taira opens the round with a one-two early and nearly catches Royval with a right as ‘Raw Dog’ moves in. Taira shoots for another takedown and pins Royval against the fence. Royval fights his way out with a few elbows and circles back to the center of the Octagon. Royval starts letting his hands go and he lands some powerful shots on Taira. Royval has Taira reeling and Taira shoots in for a desperation takedown.
Royval defends it with ease and picks up right where he left off, lighting up Taira and dropping him with a well-placed knee as the Japanese standout shot in for another takedown. As Royval continued to pick apart Royval with his hands, Taira managed to secure his third takedown of the fight and quickly ended up on Royval’s back with the body triangle locked in once again.
Taira cinches his arm around the neck, but not entirely under the chin. Still, Taira squeezes until the third-round horn sounds.
Round 4
Royval gets his hands going right away which prompts Taira to shoot for a takedown 30 seconds in. Taira succeeds and takes Royval’s back, resuming the exact same position he ended the previous round. The entirety of the round consisted of Taira holding top control, but never really threatening a submission. Still, Taira undoubtedly took the round which could have the fight even going into the fifth and final round.
Round 5
Royval gets aggressive early, landing a nice combination against the fence. Taira feints a takedown attempt which gets a big reaction out of Royval. Taira reaches in with a right but eats a counter left from Royval. ‘Raw Dog’ lands a stiff right hand and continues to dance around the cage. Pressuring Royval against the fence, Taira shoots in and secures yet another takedown with 3:30 to go in the fight. Royval tries to wall-walk his way back up. Desperate to keep Royval on the mat, Taira tries to move to his back, but Royval gets into top control.
Taira works his way back up and Royval attempts to land a big elbow on the break. Royval lands a powerful uppercut that prompts Taira to back away. A one-two from Royval lands followed by a heavy left hand. Taira punches his way in and shoots for a takedown, but Royval uses the underhook to stay upright and peel his back off the fence.
Taira lands a big right hand. Royval goes for a labored spinning back fist, but a calf kick temporarily takes him off his feet. Taira shoots again and Royval pulls the guillotine. Taira fights out but gives up his back and Royval locks in a body triangle of his own as we reach 20 seconds left. Royval punches away from the dominant position until the final horn sounds.
Official Result: Brandon Royval def. Tatsuro Taira via split decision (48-47, 47-48, 48-47)
Check Out Highlights From Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira at UFC Vegas 98:
OMG!!!! What a 3RD ROUND ‼️ Tatsuro Taira almost gets KOd by Brandon Royval 👊🏽💥😯 #UFCVegas98 pic.twitter.com/byCvzbfhKC
— MMA Homie Podcast (@theMMAhomies) October 13, 2024
Tatsuro Taira Fight IQ is at a very High Level – Look how he spins w/ Brandon Royval when he's trying to push off the fence 👀 #UFCVegas98 pic.twitter.com/ZFkG41eMaP
— MMA Homie Podcast (@theMMAhomies) October 13, 2024
Tatsuro Taira and Brandon Royval are going to WAR 🔥 #UFCVegas98
pic.twitter.com/Up4NzwUv8A— Delinquent MMA (@DelinquentMMA) October 13, 2024
We go the distance! #UFCVegas98
How did you score Brandon Royval vs Tatsuro Taira? pic.twitter.com/qk7TE62L3U
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) October 13, 2024
Il ne laissera sa place à personne 💪 @brandonroyval s'impose par décision partagée à l'#UFCVegas98 pic.twitter.com/QCz1rX9U7e
— UFC France (@UFCFRA) October 13, 2024
