Brandon Royval is aware of what it’s wish to be a hungry challenger.
The flyweight veteran scraped and clawed his strategy to a UFC title shot, falling simply in need of the gold with a choice loss to Alexandre Pantoja this previous December. A razor-thin win over two-time champion Brandon Moreno nudged Royval nearer to a rematch, however there’s nonetheless work to be carried out if he desires one other crack at it and which means beating the undefeated Tatsuro Taira this Saturday in the principle occasion of UFC Vegas 98.
On this “what have you ever carried out for me currently?” enterprise, Taira has the chance to steal Royval’s spot—at the moment tied for No. 2 within the MMA Preventing International Rankings, effectively forward of Taira at No. 8—and leap proper into the title image. Which isn’t to say Taira gained’t have earned it as he’s at the moment 16-0 with six wins within the UFC. Oh, and he doesn’t flip 25 till January.
Pantoja ought to watch this headliner carefully as a result of he might be scouting his subsequent challenger.
In different most important card motion, Brad Tavares makes his twenty fifth UFC look, a document within the middleweight division, Chidi Njokuani continues to check the welterweight waters, Grant Dawson appears to be like to maneuver nearer to the light-weight high 15, and welterweight veterans Daniel Rodriguez and Alex Morono sq. off.
What: UFC Vegas 98
The place: UFC APEX in Las Vegas
When: Saturday, Oct. 12. The seven-fight preliminary card begins at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN+, adopted by a five-fight most important card at 7 p.m. ET additionally on ESPN+.
Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira
It’s scary the speed at which Tatsuro Taira is evolving and that’s why I like his possibilities towards Brandon Royval.
Make no mistake, that is the largest check for Taira but. The Japanese wunderkind regarded good towards Alex Perez earlier than a grappling alternate that Taira managed resulted in Perez blowing out his knee, however outdoors of that he’s but to carry out towards the perfect that flyweight has to supply. He’s clearly the category of his tier, however how will that translate towards an opponent that simply went 25 minutes in a title battle eight months in the past?
When Royval fights to his potential, he’s pretty much as good as anybody at 125 kilos. What he struggles with is discovering the suitable stability between his pure aggression and using a extra technical gameplan, which may result in blended outcomes. He’s way more battle-tested than Taira although, an vital issue to think about when a younger fighter is being requested to take a step up in competitors.
The secret for Taira needs to be working for takedowns, and rinsing and repeating that technique till he’s pissed off Royval into submission. Taira has proven he can strike, however he gained’t need to mess with Royval’s unpredictable energy if he may help it. It’s time for Taira to point out his all-around abilities are worthy of a title alternative.
We’re swinging huge right here and choosing Taira to beat Royval by way of submission in Spherical 2.
Choose: Taira
Brad Tavares vs. Jun Yong Park
It’s the middleweight division’s Iron Man vs. “The Iron Turtle.”
No middleweight has made extra UFC appearances than Brad Tavares, who has been with the group since 2010. He’s the final word gamer, having misplaced to a number of elite names whereas nonetheless stringing collectively sufficient wins to maintain himself employed. He gained’t be intimidated within the slightest by Jun Yong Park.
This shall be a back-and-forth battle for 3 rounds, neither fighter prone to join with a telling blow that lets the judges toss their scorecards. Park has proven flashes of a spot within the rankings, however hasn’t carried out sufficient to cross that threshold simply but. To beat Tavares, he has to high the output of a veteran recognized for his continuous exercise.
On the subject of battles of attrition, Tavares typically finds a strategy to do exactly sufficient to sway the scoring in his favor and I anticipate that to be the case Saturday as effectively. He occasions his entries to counter Park’s efficient jab recreation, stuffs any takedown makes an attempt, and outpoints Park to take a unanimous determination.
Choose: Tavares
Chidi Njokuani vs. Jared Gooden
Jared Gooden couldn’t have picked a worse time to overlook weight.
In case you haven’t observed, the newest season of Dana White’s Contender Sequence is wrapping quickly and which means a little bit fall house-cleaning, because it had been. So the very last thing you need to be doing is messing round on the dimensions, particularly once you don’t have essentially the most spotless document.
Gooden is 1-1 in his second UFC stint (2-4 total) and given that is the third time he’s missed weight within the promotion, there’s no good strategy to put it: he’s combating to remain on the roster right here. That worst-case situation might inspire him to a career-best efficiency when the bell rings, however the truth he missed weight within the first place ought to elevate considerations as to his degree of preparation.
His opponent Chidi Njokuani was as soon as recognized for his lack of ability to chop all the way down to 170 kilos, however he made that weight for his most up-to-date battle with Rhys McKee and following that cut up determination win he’s seeking to show he deserves larger fights. His velocity and putting have at all times made him an intriguing expertise and as he approaches his thirty sixth birthday, it’s now or by no means for him.
For now, he ought to handily out-strike Gooden and foil his makes an attempt to take the battle to the bottom. A targeted Njokuani ought to finish this by way of knockout within the first or second spherical.
Choose: Njokuani
Grant Dawson vs. Rafa Garcia
Listed generously at 5-foot-7, Rafa Garcia is used to being the low man each time he enters the octagon, so I’m curious to see how he offers with the brawny Grant Dawson.
Garcia is powerful as an ox and likes to throw looping hooks en route takedown makes an attempt. He’s in powerful towards Dawson, a fellow grappler that shall be powerful to outwrestle. It’s fully attainable they neutralize one another’s wrestling, leading to a standup battle I believe Dawson wins.
True, we haven’t seen a lot of Dawson on the toes and what he have seen has been a piece in progress, however he strikes me as somebody who continues to be creating his putting, not somebody who’s incapable of it. His dimension and energy—and the tough classes discovered in his loss to Bobby Inexperienced—ought to give him the benefit right here. If Dawson can sprinkle in just a few takedowns, all the higher.
Garcia will make him work for it, however Dawson by determination.
Choose: Dawson
Daniel Rodriguez vs. Alex Morono
As talked about above, the UFC is in a chopping temper, so let’s hope that doesn’t spell doom for the loser of Daniel Rodriguez vs. Alex Morono. Although neither fighter is ever prone to compete for a world title, they nonetheless have lots to supply.
They’ll get to point out it on this matchup of two strikers, Rodriguez higher recognized for his artful and technical model, and Morono extra liable to well timed bursts of motion. Neither man is prone to come out weapons blazing, so anticipate this to return off as a high-level sparring match with a little bit blood sprinkled in. That’s the perfect you’ll be able to ask for with these APEX playing cards, typically.
When he’s on, Rodriguez appears to be like like a top-15 welterweight. I like his probabilities of channeling a few of his prime kind towards Morono. It’s Rodriguez’s battle to lose, and I see him successful the vast majority of exchanges over the course of three rounds to take a cushty, if uneventful determination.
Choose: Rodriguez
Preliminaries
Ramazan Temirov def. CJ Vergara
Pat Sabatini def. Jonathan Pearce
Themba Gorimbo def. Niko Value
Cory McKenna def. Julia Polastri
Sean Sharaf def. Junior Tafa
Cody Haddon def. Dan Argueta
Lucas Rocha def. Clayton Carpenter
