Brandon Royval Bio
Brandon Matthew Royval (born August 16, 1992) is an American professional mixed martial artist who competes in the Flyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). Known by the nickname “Raw Dawg,” Royval has built a reputation as one of the most entertaining finishers in the 125-pound division, with a professional record built largely on submissions, knockouts, and fast-paced striking exchanges. As of July 1, 2025, he is ranked number three in the UFC flyweight rankings.
A professional competitor since 2012, Royval trains out of Factory X in Englewood, Colorado, where he has also worked as a jiu-jitsu instructor. He is a former Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) Flyweight Champion and holds a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Across his career, he has earned multiple post-fight bonus awards for his performances inside the UFC cage.
Early Life and Background
Brandon Matthew Royval was born on August 16, 1992, in Denver, Colorado, and grew up in a Mexican family in the same city. He was raised alongside an older brother named Darian, and the Denver area remained central to his upbringing and training base. From an early age, Royval showed an interest in combat sports and physical competition, which would eventually shape his career path.
By the age of 15, Royval was already training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai, two disciplines that would later define his mixed martial arts style. His early exposure to grappling and striking gave him a well-rounded foundation and helped set the stage for his transition into amateur and professional MMA competition.
Path to MMA
Royval took his first amateur bout at the age of 18 and quickly compiled an undefeated 5–0 amateur record. That amateur run demonstrated his finishing instincts and helped him build the experience needed to turn professional. In 2012, at the age of 19, he made the leap into the professional ranks, beginning a career that would carry him through regional promotions and eventually into the UFC.
For the early portion of his professional career, Royval competed mostly with Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he built an 8–3 record and earned a shot at the interim LFA Flyweight Championship against Casey Kenney. Although he lost that title bout by unanimous decision, the performance kept him in title contention and led to a series of high-profile fights that reestablished him as one of the top flyweights outside the UFC.
Brandon Royval Career
Early Career (2012–2019)
Following his interim title setback, Royval continued to climb the LFA ladder. He faced UFC veteran Joby Sanchez at LFA 65 on May 3, 2019, winning the bout via first-round armbar submission. The victory reminded promoters and fans of his finishing ability on the ground.
Later in 2019, Royval was scheduled to face Jared Scoggins for the vacant LFA Flyweight title, but Scoggins withdrew from the bout. Nate Williams stepped in as a replacement, and Royval captured the LFA Flyweight Championship with another first-round armbar submission on November 22, 2019. The title run cemented his status as a top flyweight prospect ready for the biggest stage in the sport.
UFC Breakthrough (2020–2021)
Brandon Royval made his UFC debut on May 30, 2020, at UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns, where he submitted Tim Elliott in the second round. The performance earned him a Fight of the Night award and announced his arrival in the promotion.
Royval followed that win with another bonus-earning performance against Kai Kara-France at UFC 253 on September 27, 2020. After both fighters were knocked down in the opening round, Royval locked in a second-round submission to earn his second consecutive Fight of the Night award. He was then inserted as a short-notice replacement against former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC 255, where he lost via first-round technical knockout. In August 2021, Royval faced Alexandre Pantoja at UFC on ESPN 29 and was submitted via rear-naked choke in round two.
Rise to Title Contention (2022–2023)
Royval opened 2022 with a split-decision win over Rogério Bontorin at UFC on ESPN 32 on January 15, 2022. He followed that with a memorable first-round guillotine choke submission of Matt Schnell at UFC 274 on May 7, 2022, a fight that earned both men the Fight of the Night bonus award.
Scheduled bouts against Askar Askarov and Amir Albazi both fell through due to injury and weight management issues, but Royval returned in April 2023 and knocked out Matheus Nicolau in the first round at UFC on ESPN 44, earning a Performance of the Night award. The win set up a rematch with Alexandre Pantoja for the UFC Flyweight Championship at UFC 296 on December 16, 2023, where Royval lost by unanimous decision.
Post Title Shot Era (2024–Present)
Royval rebounded in 2024 with a split-decision win over former champion Brandon Moreno at UFC Fight Night 237 on February 24, 2024, replacing Amir Albazi on short notice. He then faced former Shooto Flyweight Champion Tatsuro Taira in the main event of UFC Fight Night 244 on October 12, 2024, winning another split decision and earning another Fight of the Night award.
Royval was booked to face Manel Kape in the main event of UFC Fight Night 253 on March 1, 2025, but withdrew due to multiple concussions. The bout was rescheduled multiple times and ultimately took place at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, where Kape was replaced by Joshua Van after fracturing his foot. Royval lost the fight by unanimous decision but earned another Fight of the Night award as the two combined for 419 significant strikes, breaking the record for most significant strikes landed in a three-round UFC flyweight bout.
Driving Style and Strengths
Royval is widely regarded as one of the most aggressive and fan-friendly flyweights in the UFC. His game blends dynamic Brazilian jiu-jitsu, crisp Muay Thai, and a relentless pace that forces opponents into uncomfortable exchanges. Working alongside the coaching staff at Factory X, he has developed a well-rounded skill set capable of finishing fights on the feet or on the ground.
Notable Events and Milestones
Royval’s career has been punctuated by multiple Fight of the Night and Performance of the Night bonuses, an LFA Flyweight Championship, and a UFC Flyweight title challenge. His 2025 bout with Joshua Van produced a record-setting 419 significant strikes in a three-round flyweight fight, further adding to his reputation for producing memorable action inside the cage.
Brandon Royval Career Wins
Across his professional career, Brandon Royval has compiled 17 wins in 25 total professional bouts. His finishes have come by knockout, submission, and decision, with the bulk of his victories coming by way of the judges’ scorecards.
UFC Highlights
Royval’s UFC wins include submission victories over Tim Elliott and Kai Kara-France, a first-round guillotine choke of Matt Schnell, a first-round knockout of Matheus Nicolau, and split-decision wins over Rogério Bontorin, Brandon Moreno, and Tatsuro Taira. Several of these performances earned him post-fight bonus awards and helped him climb into the top three of the UFC flyweight rankings.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the UFC, Royval captured the LFA Flyweight Championship and added wins over regional veterans such as Joby Sanchez and Nate Williams. His pre-UFC run helped establish the finishing instincts that have since made him a fan favorite in the world’s largest MMA promotion.
Brandon Royval Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Brandon Royval was raised in a Mexican family in Denver, Colorado, alongside his older brother Darian. His family roots in the Denver area have remained central to his identity as a fighter, and he continues to live and train in the region.
Personal Life
Royval currently resides in Englewood, Colorado, where he trains at Factory X and has worked as a jiu-jitsu instructor. After his 2020 win over Kai Kara-France, he left his full-time job in the juvenile justice system to focus fully on his MMA career.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 campaign has been a turbulent one for Brandon Royval. After withdrawing from a March 1 main event against Manel Kape due to multiple concussions, he was rescheduled twice before finally meeting Joshua Van at UFC 317 on June 28, 2025, following Kape’s withdrawal with a fractured foot. Royval lost the bout by unanimous decision but earned another Fight of the Night award, with the fight producing 419 significant strikes, a record for a three-round UFC flyweight contest.
Despite the loss, Royval remained ranked number three in the UFC flyweight division as of July 1, 2025, underscoring his continued status as an elite contender. With a third booking against Manel Kape now scheduled for December 13, 2025, at UFC on ESPN 73, Royval has a clear opportunity to close the year with a statement victory and reestablish himself in the title picture.
Looking ahead, Royval’s combination of experience, finishing ability, and fan-friendly style keeps him firmly in the flyweight title conversation. A win over Kape would likely move him back into immediate title contention heading into 2026.