Brandon Royval Breaks Silence After UFC 329 Victory With Emotional Statement

Brandon Royval delivered one of the most memorable performances at UFC 329, and now the top-ranked flyweight contender has shared his first public comments following his dramatic comeback victory over Lone’er Kavanagh.

After entering the fight as a +200 underdog, Royval overcame serious adversity, surviving a devastating knockdown in the second round before rallying to secure a spectacular third-round rear-naked choke submission. The thrilling contest earned Fight of the Night honors and marked Royval’s sixth career performance bonus in that category, while snapping a two-fight losing streak in impressive fashion.

Royval Thanks His Team After Signature Victory

Two days after the biggest comeback win of his recent career, Royval took to social media to recognize the coaches and teammates who helped prepare him for one of the toughest opponents in the UFC flyweight division.

“So much work and damage was taken to get prepared for such a high level fighter. Thank you to @cmatzamma for a masterful Game Plan. Thank you to everyone who helped me for this fight. Couldn’t have done it without yall.”

The message reflected just how physically demanding the fight was, as Royval absorbed heavy punishment before completely shifting the momentum and finishing one of the division’s fastest-rising contenders.

Fight of the Night Showcases Royval’s Resilience

The bout lived up to every expectation.

Kavanagh looked poised to score the biggest win of his UFC career after dropping Royval with a powerful shot in the second round. However, Royval showcased the toughness and relentless pace that have made him one of the flyweight division’s most entertaining fighters.

Rather than fading after the knockdown, Royval increased the pressure in the third round, eventually taking Kavanagh’s back and locking in a fight-ending rear-naked choke that forced the submission.

The dramatic finish not only earned Royval another bonus but also immediately reinserted him into the championship conversation at 125 pounds.

Royval Calls for Asu Almabayev

Following UFC 329, Royval wasted little time identifying his preferred next opponent.

The No. 3-ranked flyweight said he wants to face Asu Almabayev, who currently sits just behind him in the rankings and has quietly built one of the division’s strongest résumés.

Almabayev owns an impressive 7-1 UFC record and enters the matchup riding a three-fight winning streak, most recently earning a submission victory over Charles Johnson. The pairing would give fans a fresh matchup between two elite contenders who have never previously met inside the Octagon.

Flyweight Title Picture Continues to Heat Up

A matchup between Royval and Almabayev would carry significant title implications.

Royval proved at UFC 329 that he remains one of the most dangerous and durable fighters in the division, while Almabayev has steadily climbed the rankings through dominant performances against increasingly difficult competition.

Despite absorbing considerable damage against Kavanagh, Royval has made it clear he wants to remain active and return to competition before the end of 2026.

If the UFC books Royval versus Almabayev, it would feature two of the flyweight division’s most aggressive finishers in a fight that has all the ingredients to produce another Fight of the Night contender and potentially determine the next challenger for UFC flyweight gold.