It’s simply not in Brandon Royval’s nature to again down from a problem.
That’s successfully the message the one-time title contender conveyed after his unanimous choice loss to Joshua Van at UFC 317 after the flyweights placed on arguably the Combat of the 12 months. The back-and-forth conflict resulted in dramatic vogue with Van scoring a knockdown and Royval simply barely surviving to the ultimate horn within the third spherical.
Initially scheduled to face Manel Kape on the cardboard, Royval took an enormous danger accepting the combat in opposition to a a lot decrease ranked opponent like Van however he acknowledged that’s simply how he’s constructed.
“A story of ‘the scorpion and the frog,’” Royval wrote on Instagram. “Some people are pushed by uncontrollable instincts, even when these instincts result in self-destructive or dangerous actions.
“Want I may change however I’ve at all times been this [way] thanks for many who have supported me alongside the best way.”
Very like the traditional fable the place the scorpion stings a frog whereas crossing a river collectively — despite the fact that meaning its final demise — Royval doesn’t blink when supplied a possibility just like the one he had on Saturday night time.
The identical goes together with his efficiency as a result of Royval was mashing down on the fuel pedal from the primary alternate till the final.
Royval landed 215 significant strikes throughout three rounds whereas throwing 468 whole strikes. The mixed 419 strikes Royval and Van landed set a new UFC record for a three-round combat whereas additionally clearly setting the identical file for the flyweight division.
It was additionally the primary time in UFC historical past the place each fighters related with no less than 200 vital strikes and the flyweights did that with solely quarter-hour to work.
The file setting efficiency nonetheless ended with Royval on the shedding finish of the choice in order that’s positively a troublesome capsule to swallow however he deserves all of the flowers for that type of efficiency.
As an added bonus, UFC CEO Dana White revealed after the occasion that he was paying Royval each his present and win cash together with the Combat of the Night time bonus he earned for UFC 317.
The loss drops Royval to 5-2 in his previous seven fights and his climb to obtain one other title shot begins once more, though he nonetheless stays one of many prime ranked flyweights within the sport.
