UFC"Raw Dawg" | Rank 4Brandon Royval Record: 18-9-0
FlyweightRecord18-9-0
Age34
DivisionFlyweight · #16
Combat Edge Elo1711
Last fightJul 11 2026
Brandon Royval has a 18-9-0 professional record and is 34 years old in the Flyweight division, representing Factory X (1665 average active-roster Elo across 17 rated fighters). This profile tracks fight history, UFC stats, ELO rating, record, age, and opponent links.
Last updated Jul 12, 2026 · Combat Edge fight database
Brandon Royval bio
Personal background
Brandon Royval is an American flyweight contender in the UFC, a frenetic, submission-savvy fighter nicknamed "Raw Dawg" who carries a 17-9 record. Born on August 16, 1992, in Englewood, Colorado, in the Denver metro area, Royval grew up in a Mexican-American household and found combat sports early, training Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai from age 15 under Mario Correa at Factory X Muay Thai. He went on to earn his BJJ black belt under Correa and remains a cornerstone of the Englewood gym, where he also instructs. Standing 5'7" with a 68" reach, Royval fights with a chaotic, all-action style that has made him one of the most entertaining 125-pounders in the sport.
Path to the UFC
Royval turned professional in 2012, learning his trade across promotions like WSOF and especially Legacy Fighting Alliance, where he became a fixture and eventually a flyweight champion. The regional road wasn't smooth – a 2016 decision loss to Ricky Palacios and a 2017 split-decision loss to Nick Urso tested him – but he answered with finishes, including a triangle choke of Angel Torres in 2016. He stacked LFA wins over Jerome Rivera and Charles Johnson in 2018, dropped a five-round decision to Casey Kenney, then submitted Joby Sanchez in 2019 to push toward the UFC.
UFC run
Royval made an immediate splash in the UFC. In May 2020 he submitted veteran Tim Elliott, then in September 2020 caught contender Kai Kara-France in a guillotine in a wild back-and-forth that announced him as a top flyweight. A TKO loss to Brandon Moreno followed at UFC 255, and in 2021 he was submitted by future champion Alexandre Pantoja. Royval regrouped with a 2022 split decision over Rogério Bontorin and a guillotine finish of Matt Schnell, then opened 2023 with a violent first-round knockout of Matheus Nicolau that earned him a title shot.
That opportunity came at UFC 296 in December 2023, where Royval challenged Pantoja for the flyweight championship and lost a competitive five-round decision in the rematch. He responded with the best run of his career: a five-round split-decision win over former champion Brandon Moreno in February 2024 avenged his earlier loss, and that October he handed the undefeated Tatsuro Taira his first professional defeat via split decision. His 2025 turned difficult, with a decision loss to rising star Joshua Van at UFC 317 and a first-round knockout loss to Manel Kape in December.
Fighting style
Royval is a scrambler in the purest sense – a black belt who fights at a relentless pace and is comfortable in the most chaotic positions. Nine of his 17 wins are submissions and four are knockouts, a 76% finish rate that reflects how aggressively he hunts the finish from any angle. His jiu-jitsu, particularly his guillotine and triangle game, is world-class, and his volume striking keeps opponents under constant pressure. The trade-off is defense: his willingness to engage in firefights leaves him hittable, and six of his nine losses have come by decision against the division's most disciplined fighters. Few flyweights, however, are more dangerous in a scramble.
Career highlights
- UFC flyweight title challenger — earned a championship shot against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 296 after a knockout of Matheus Nicolau.
- Beat a former champion — avenged an earlier loss with a five-round decision win over Brandon Moreno in 2024.
- Spoiled an unbeaten run — dealt Tatsuro Taira his first pro loss in a five-round split decision.
Career snapshot
Brandon Royval career snapshot
EloCombat Edge Elo
1711Good ratingElo trajectory (last 3 years)
Overall#365
Flyweight#16of 125 active
Peak1727
Last move+14
Opponent quality1726avg. pre-fight Elo · last 10
Career-high 1727 Elo after defeating Tatsuro Taira (2024-10-12)
Similar Elo in Flyweight
Brandon Royval quick answers
What is Brandon Royval's record?
Brandon Royval's professional MMA record is 18-9-0.
How old is Brandon Royval?
Brandon Royval is 34 years old.
What weight class is Brandon Royval?
Brandon Royval fights at Flyweight in UFC.
What gym does Brandon Royval represent?
Brandon Royval is associated with Factory X, whose 17 active Combat Edge fighters average 1665 Elo.
How tall is Brandon Royval?
Brandon Royval is 5'7" tall with a 68" reach.
How much does Brandon Royval weigh?
Brandon Royval competes at Flyweight, with a most recent weigh-in of 125 lbs.
What is Brandon Royval's Combat Edge Elo?
Brandon Royval's Combat Edge Elo is 1711, with a peak Elo of 1727.
How strong is Brandon Royval's recent opposition?
Brandon Royval's latest 10 counted opponents averaged 1726 Elo immediately before their fights. This avoids using opponents' later career results with hindsight.
When was Brandon Royval's last fight?
Brandon Royval's latest tracked pro fight was against Lone'er Kavanagh at UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 on Jul 11 2026.
What is Brandon Royval's recent form?
Brandon Royval's recent tracked pro form is W-L-L-W-W over the latest 5 decisive pro results.
How does Brandon Royval usually win?
Brandon Royval's 18 recorded wins include 4 knockouts, 10 submissions, and 4 decisions, with 78% ending before the final bell.
4Wins by knockout
10Wins by submission
4Wins by decision
2Loss by knockout
1Loss by submission
6Loss by decision
Brandon Royval stats
Record : 18 / 9 / 0Significant strikes landed per minute
5.54Fighter4.07UFC flyweight avg
Significant striking accuracy
42%Fighter45%UFC flyweight avg
Significant strikes absorbed per minute
4.25Fighter3.86UFC flyweight avg
Significant strike defenseThe % of opponents strikes that did not land
43%Fighter55%UFC flyweight avg
Average takedowns landed per 15 minutes
0.65Fighter1.43UFC flyweight avg
Takedown accuracy
75%Fighter28%UFC flyweight avg
Takedown defenseThe % of opponents TD attempts that did not land
45%Fighter57%UFC flyweight avg
Average submissions attempted per 15 minutes
1.08Fighter0.60UFC flyweight avg
Pro fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
Amateur fight history
ResultOpponentMethodTimeRoundEventDateFight details
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