February 21, 2024 3: 30 pm ET
MEXICO CITY – Brandon Royval values the chance in front of him, as a win in Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 237 primary occasion would shift his profession into a more favorable light.
After getting controlled by flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja in their UFC 296 title battle in December, Royval (15-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) confesses he was dealing with a bit of a post-loss hangover. He felt rather directionless, however then the phone called, and he was provided the position of a backup for Saturday’s headliner, which was initially set as Brandon Moreno vs. Amir Albazi.
“I’m sitting at home, this is 3 weeks after the Pantoja battle, possibly 4 weeks after the Pantoja battle,” Royval informed MMA Junkie and other pressreporters at Wednesday’s UFC Fight Night 237 media day. “The vacations tookplace. I’m a little fat. I get a call and they’re like, ‘Do you desire to be the backup fighter?’ I’m like, ‘There’s no method someone is going to pull out oft that battle. Free trip to Mexico City? For sure I desire that.’ I took the battle.”
Less than one day passed before Royval’s phone sounded onceagain, and next thing he understood, he was in versus Moreno (21-7-2 MMA, 9-3-2 UFC) in a rematch of their November 2020 battle from UFC 255, which Moreno won by first-round TKO.
“Within 18 hours lateron, I got another call and they’re like, ‘All best, you’re in. You’re combating Moreno in Mexico City,’” Royval stated. “I was like, ‘Oh sh*t, cool.’ … I’m rea