The UFC flyweight title recently changed hands when Joshua Van became the new champion after Alexandre Pantoja suffered an injury just seconds into their fight. Royval, who lost to Van in June, shared his thoughts on the division’s newly crowned titleholder.
“I just kinda thought I was a f*cking idiot (when I fought Van). When you watch the fight back, and to be fair I really just told everybody what I was going to do and I went out there and did it. I went there and tried to box a boxer,” said Royval.
“I wanted to fight in the pocket, really wanted to just give the fans fight of the night.”
Royval didn’t hide his intentions against Van. He talked openly about his game plan leading into the fight, and then followed through with it, even against his coaches’ wishes.
“My corner strongly advised against that, but maybe if the last ten seconds doesn’t happen I win fighting his style,” he said.
“That being said now I just get to go out there and make up for it, fight Manel Kape, and show what I can do.”
Watch the entire media day scrum with Brandon Royval above. He faces Manel Kape in the main event of UFC Vegas 112 on Saturday night.