Brandon Royval added to his highlight reel at UFC 329 with a performance already being considered a Fight of the Year candidate, just days after picking up the same honor on Wednesday. Royval continues to cement his reputation as one of the most action-packed fighters on the UFC roster.
Brandon Royval turned in yet another breathtaking performance at UFC 329 on July 11, adding a second Fight of the Year candidate to his resume within the same week after having earned that recognition just days earlier.
The 33-year-old American, known as "Raw Dawg," has spent years building a reputation as one of the most entertaining fighters in the flyweight division, and his latest outing did nothing to diminish that standing. Royval holds an 18-9 record and is currently ranked third in the flyweight division, training out of Factory X in Colorado. Fighting out of a southpaw stance with a 68-inch reach, he brings a relentless pace backed by genuine finishing ability. He lands 5.6 significant strikes per minute with a striking accuracy of 42 percent, and his submission threat is ever-present at 1.2 attempts per 15 minutes — a combination that makes him dangerous in virtually any phase of a fight.
Why it matters
- Royval's back-to-back Fight of the Year-caliber performances reinforce his standing as one of the most compelling fighters on the entire UFC roster, not just within flyweight.
- Sitting at number three in the division, continued high-profile showings keep him firmly in the conversation for a title shot.
- His blend of volume striking and active submission grappling creates stylistic problems for any opponent and guarantees crowd engagement regardless of matchup.
Cementing his legacy as a pure action fighter, Royval now carries the momentum of two celebrated performances into what figures to be a pivotal stretch of his career at 33 years old.
Saturday, July 11, 2026
