UFC Fight Night – Royval vs. Taira 10/12/24

The UFC is back in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon for the first back-to-back cards from the UFC APEX. The main event features a flyweight title eliminator between Brandon Royval (16-7 MMA) and Tatsuo Taira (16-0 MMA). Royval has been with the UFC since 2020, posting a 6-3 record. His last fight saw him earn a closely-contested split decision against former flyweight champion Brandon Moreno in February. The win was Royval's since last April, bouncing back after losing in his lone flyweight title opportunity in December against Alexandre Pantoja.

Meanwhile, Taira has been on a tear since his arrival on the UFC scene. He is 6-0 since 2022, skyrocketing himself into contender status with a second-round TKO due to injury in June against Alex Perez. Hailing from Japan, Taira has won 44 percent of his fights by submission while balancing his attack with five TKO finishes. The winner of the fight is arguably next in line for Pantoja, who defeated Steve Erceg in May at UFC 301.

An additional bout that shouldn't be missed is when Brad Tavares faces off against JunYong Park. Tavares holds a record of 20-10-0. The 36-year-old weighs in at 185 lbs and measures in at 6'1". The orthodox fighter extends his reach 74". Park measures 5'10" and weighs in at 185 lbs. The orthodox fighter will be looking to add a victory to his total of 17-6-0. The 33-year-old has a reach of 73". When it comes to grappling, Brad Tavares scores a takedown 0.78 times per 3 rds while JunYong Park scores a takedown 1.83 times per 15 minutes. In terms of striking, Tavares connects for an average of 3.38 strikes/minute and is landing 43% of the strikes that he throws. The other fighter in this bout is JunYong Park, who tags his opponent on 50% of the strikes he has thrown and is connecting on 4.53 per min.

Another must see fight on the night is when Rafa Garcia is set to square up against Grant Dawson. Dawson will be looking to add a victory to his total of 21-2-1. The 30-year-old is weighing in at 155 lbs and measures in at 5'10". The switch fighter has a wingspan of 72". Garcia measures in at 5'7" and is weighing in at 155 lbs. The orthodox fighter looks to add a victory to his total of 16-3-0. The 30-year-old has a reach of 70". Regarding wrestling, Grant Dawson is thwarting 57% of the takedowns fighters have gone for and is finishing his takedowns on 38% of his attempts. Garcia is taking his opponents to the mat on 44% of the tries he takes and is able to deflect 79% of the takedowns his opponents attempt. In the matter of striking, Dawson absorbs 2.11 strikes/min while he is landing 2.98 strikes/minute. Garcia, on the other side, takes 4.21 strikes/minute and lands 4.19 per min.

Royval’s recent performances have been a mix of highs and lows. After a highlight-reel KO victory over Matheus Nicolau in April 2023, Royval earned a split decision win over Brandon Moreno in February 2024. However, his loss to Alexandre Pantoja in December 2023 highlighted some of the weaknesses in his game, particularly his tendency to leave himself open to counters and submissions. Against Taira, Royval will need to fight a more measured and calculated fight. While his aggression is one of his strengths, he cannot afford to be reckless against a skilled grappler like Taira. If Royval can control the pace and avoid getting taken down, he has the tools to win this fight.

Taira has been on an absolute tear since joining the UFC. His most recent victory, a second-round KO over Alex Perez, showcased his striking power and ability to finish fights. Taira’s calm and composed approach in the octagon has served him well, allowing him to stay undefeated in his career. Against Royval, Taira will need to be mindful of the chaos that Royval brings. If he can maintain his composure and stay out of wild exchanges, Taira’s grappling and precision striking should give him the advantage. Taira has shown that he can finish fights both on the feet and on the ground, making him a dangerous opponent for Royval.