Brandon Royval called out Asu Almabayev in the wake of his victory at UFC 329. The callout sets up a potential flyweight matchup between the two fighters.
Brandon Royval wasted no time after his victory at UFC 329 on July 11, calling out fellow flyweight contender Asu Almabayev and pushing for a matchup between the two ranked fighters.
Royval, known as "Raw Dawg," enters the conversation riding fresh momentum at 18-9 and sitting third in the flyweight division. The 33-year-old American out of Factory X is one of the more active and dangerous strikers at 125 pounds, landing 5.6 significant strikes per minute while also averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes — a combination that makes him a genuine threat in all phases of a fight.
Almabayev, nicknamed "Zulfikar," is ranked eighth in the division and brings a record of 24-3 to the table. The 32-year-old Kazakhstani represents DAR Pro Team and operates as one of the more prolific grapplers in the flyweight tier, averaging an impressive 4.46 takedowns per 15 minutes with a striking accuracy of 50 percent. Despite a five-inch height disadvantage compared to Royval, Almabayev has built his career on suffocating pressure and consistent wrestling output.
Why it matters
- A win for Royval over a top-ten opponent could strengthen his case for a title shot from the third-ranked position.
- Almabayev would be stepping up significantly in divisional ranking, with a strong performance capable of vaulting him into the top five.
- The style matchup presents a clear contrast — Royval's high-volume striking and submission activity against Almabayev's elite takedown rate and grappling-first approach.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
