Brandon Royval defeated Brandon Moreno via split decision (48-47, 46-49, 48-47), at UFC Mexico on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024, live from Arena CDMX in Mexico City, Mexico.
After the win, he called out UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja who was sitting in the crowd.
"I'm a f*cking gangster, I'm the realest one in the flyweight division. Everyone wants to grab me all day. Hey, I hear that Alexandre Pantoja is in the building. Let's run that sh*t back motherf*cker. Ain't no motherf*cker holding me ever again. I'm going to people's houses and taking their f*cking sh*t, all day every day," said Royval.
Brandon Royval is fired up!
ā UFC (@ufc) February 25, 2024
He wants the rematch with Alexandre Pantoja after tonight's #UFCMexico win š pic.twitter.com/ynUKqG7CXP
The opening round started with Royval taking the middle of the Octagon and Moreno circling on the outside. Referee Herb Dean repeatedly asked the fighters to engage. The two fighters finally started to get going as they traded powerful combinations with 90 seconds remaining in the round.
The action from the end of the first round continued through the second and third rounds. The fight was briefly stopped after Royval landed a low blow. The high output continued into the fourth round. Royval continued to touch up Moreno with punches, while Moreno responded with counters and leg kicks.
25 minutes in the books š„
ā UFC (@ufc) February 25, 2024
The #UFCMexico Main Event is headed to the judges scorecards! pic.twitter.com/KD5dz0zeDs
Between rounds, Moreno's coach Sayif Saud asked "do you want your f*cking belt back?" Saud continued by telling Moreno that he lost the fourth round and needed to win the fifth if he wanted to win the fight. The fighters engaged in a clinch in the early goings of the final round.
Dean warned both fighters multiple times before restarting the fight in the middle of the Octagon. The two fighters traded a bunch of punches before another clinch. Dean forced the fighters to break and fight in the middle, leading to a final minute of action.
Moreno and Royval first fought at UFC 255 on Nov. 21, 2020. Moreno knocked out Royval in the first round. The victory catapulted Moreno into a title fight the next month at UFC 256 where he drew with Deiveson Figueiredo in the first of their four title fights. Royval will likely have the chance to use his victory over Moreno to get a title fight and rematch with Pantoja in his next fight.
UFC fighters reacted to the Alexandre Pantoja call-out
Fighters reacted on social media to the fight and Royval's post-fight interview.
Translation : I would like to fight pantoja in Brazil lol
ā Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) February 25, 2024
What a fight!!! Love both these boys, thank you for a hell of a show. #UFCMexico
ā Zak Cummings (@ZakCummings) February 25, 2024
He fought with less chaos because royval lives in chaos he tried slowing down the fight .. royval just had a crazy output https://t.co/X1eIkQ3K8K
ā Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) February 25, 2024
I thought Royval won but that probably means nothing in Mexico
ā Jared Gordon (@JFlashGordonMMA) February 25, 2024
Both guys named Brandon I think the judges are gonna be all over the place with these cards
ā Belal Muhammad (@bullyb170) February 25, 2024
Iām thinking 3-2 Moreno #UFCMexicoCity
ā Nazim Sadykhov (@naz_mma) February 25, 2024
49-46 is crazy
ā Terrance McKinney (@twrecks155) February 25, 2024
They both looked horrible. I see you guys soon
ā The Prince (@AmirAlbazi) February 25, 2024