Hello, mixed martial artist fans! If you love following the MMA and admire world-class, Brandon Royval is a name you’ll recognize instantly. Brandon Royval is an American UFC flyweight contender best known for his high‑pace, submission-heavy style and his “Raw Dawg” nickname. He is seen as one of the most entertaining fighters at 125 lbs and remains a top‑ranked contender in the division.
Brandon Royval’s Biography
| Attribute | Information |
| Full Name | Brandon Matthew Royval |
| Nickname | “Raw Dawg” |
| Date of Birth | August 16, 1992 |
| Age | 33 years old |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mexican-American |
| Place of Birth | Denver, Colorado, USA |
| Height | 5’9″ (175 cm) |
| Weight Division | Flyweight (125 lbs) |
| Reach | 68 inches |
| College | N/A |
| Religion | Hispanic Catholic tradition |
| Professional Debut | 2012 |
| Turned Pro | 2012 |
| Net Worth | Estimated $500,000 |
| Current Salary Range | $100,000-$150,000+ per fight |
| Spouse | N/A |
| Relationship Status | Private |
| Children | Has multiple children |
| Instagram Profile | @broyval |
| Training Affiliation | Factory X Muay Thai / Mile High Militia |
| Fighting Stance | Southpaw |
| Current Ranking | #3 UFC Flyweight |
Early Career
Brandon Royval’s journey in combat sports began at just fifteen years old when he started training Brazilian jiu-jitsu and Muay Thai under Mario Correa at Factory X Muay Thai Academy in Denver. He quickly developed exceptional submission skills, earning his BJJ black belt while still in his youth. At eighteen, Royval made his amateur debut and rapidly compiled a perfect 5-0 amateur record, with most of his victories coming via first-round submissions. This impressive amateur foundation provided the confidence and technical knowledge necessary to transition into professional MMA competition.
Professional Career
Brandon Royval’s professional MMA career spans over thirteen years, during which he has evolved from a regional prospect into a legitimate UFC title contender. Making his UFC debut on May 30, 2020, against Tim Elliott, Royval immediately impressed the MMA community by securing a second-round submission victory and earning his first Fight of the Night bonus. This explosive entrance to the world’s premier fighting organization validated years of preparation and sacrifice.
Brandon Royval’s Net Worth Details
As of 2025, Brandon Royval’s estimated net worth stands at approximately $500,000, a respectable accumulation for a flyweight fighter competing at the UFC’s elite level. However, flyweights historically earn substantially less than competitors in heavier weight divisions, creating a financial disparity that continues to frustrate many fighters in the division. The majority of Royval’s wealth derives from UFC fight purses, with earnings varying significantly based on opponent ranking, fight type (title shot versus non-title), event location, and performance bonuses.
Fight Purses
| Event | Date | Opponent | Result | Base Pay | Win Bonus | Performance Bonus | Total Estimated Earnings |
| UFC 317 | June 28, 2025 | Joshua Van | Loss (UD) | $110,000 | $0 | $50,000 (FOTN) | $171,000 |
| UFC Fight Night 244 | October 12, 2024 | Tatsuro Taira | Win (SD) | $100,000 | $100,000 | $50,000 (FOTN) | $250,000+ |
| UFC Fight Night 237 | February 24, 2024 | Brandon Moreno | Win (SD) | $70,000 | $70,000 | $6,000 (incentive) | $146,000 |
| UFC 296 | December 16, 2023 | Alexandre Pantoja | Loss (UD) | $150,000 | $0 | $32,000 (incentive) | $197,000 |
| UFC Fight Night (April 15, 2023) | April 15, 2023 | Matheus Nicolau | Win (KO) | $44,000 | $44,000 | $50,000 (Perf.) | $138,000 |
| UFC 274 | May 7, 2022 | Matt Schnell | Win (Sub) | ~$40,000 | ~$40,000 | $50,000 (FOTN) | ~$130,000 |
| UFC Fight Night (Jan 15, 2022) | January 15, 2022 | Rogério Bontorin | Win (SD) | ~$35,000 | ~$35,000 | $6,000 (incentive) | ~$76,000 |
| UFC Fight Night (Aug 21, 2021) | August 21, 2021 | Alexandre Pantoja | Loss (Sub) | ~$30,000 | $0 | $6,000 (incentive) | ~$36,000 |
| UFC 255 | November 21, 2020 | Brandon Moreno | Loss (TKO) | ~$25,000 | $0 | $6,000 (incentive) | ~$31,000 |
| UFC 253 | September 26, 2020 | Kai Kara-France | Win (Sub) | ~$20,000 | ~$20,000 | $50,000 (FOTN) | ~$90,000 |
| UFC Fight Night (May 30, 2020) | May 30, 2020 | Tim Elliott | Win (Sub) | ~$15,000 | ~$15,000 | $50,000 (FOTN) | ~$80,000 |
Endorsements and Sponsorships
- Vyv: Premium smelling salts manufacturer; Royval partners with this company for performance enhancement products, appropriately aligned with his chaotic, explosive fighting style
- Hydro Sodas: CBD-infused energy beverage company; provides both sponsorship compensation and product supply for recovery and wellness
- EAP Glass: Eye protection and athletic eyewear brand; represents a more niche sponsorship aligned with fighter equipment needs
- Real Gangsters: Sponsored apparel or lifestyle brand; reflects Royval’s raw, authentic personality and street-level authenticity
- LFA Fighting: Legacy Fighting Alliance sponsorship connection from his championship tenure with the organization
- Factory X Muay Thai: His primary training affiliation; provides visibility through gym branding and fighter representation
Career Records
| Opponent | Date | Event | Result | Method | Round/Time | Significance |
| Joshua Van | June 28, 2025 | UFC 317 | Loss | Decision (UD) | 3/5:00 | Title eliminator; 419 combined significant strikes (flyweight record) |
| Tatsuro Taira | October 12, 2024 | UFC Fight Night 244 | Win | Decision (SD) | 5/5:00 | Fight of the Night; established top-3 contender status |
| Brandon Moreno | February 24, 2024 | UFC Fight Night 237 | Win | Decision (SD) | 5/5:00 | Rematch victory over former champion |
| Alexandre Pantoja | December 16, 2023 | UFC 296 | Loss | Decision (UD) | 5/5:00 | UFC Flyweight Championship title fight |
| Matheus Nicolau | April 15, 2023 | UFC Fight Night | Win | Knockout | 1/2:09 | Performance of the Night; strong comeback performance |
| Matt Schnell | May 7, 2022 | UFC 274 | Win | Submission (Guillotine) | 1/2:14 | Fight of the Night; demonstrates signature submission skill |
| Rogério Bontorin | January 15, 2022 | UFC Fight Night | Win | Decision (SD) | 3/5:00 | Narrow victory establishing rise to contention |
| Alexandre Pantoja | August 21, 2021 | UFC Fight Night | Loss | Submission (RNC) | 2/1:46 | First meeting with future champion; learning experience |
| Brandon Moreno | November 21, 2020 | UFC 255 | Loss | TKO (Punches) | 1/4:59 | Early career setback against elite competition |
| Kai Kara-France | September 26, 2020 | UFC 253 | Win | Submission (Guillotine) | 2/0:48 | Fight of the Night; spectacular submission |
| Tim Elliott | May 30, 2020 | UFC Fight Night | Win | Submission (Arm Triangle) | 2/3:18 | UFC debut; Fight of the Night; immediate impact |
| Nate Williams | November 22, 2019 | LFA 79 | Win | Submission (Armbar) | 1/0:23 | Won LFA Flyweight Championship |
| Casey Kenney | November 9, 2018 | LFA 53 | Loss | Decision (UD) | 5/5:00 | Lost interim LFA title shot |
FAQs
1. What is Brandon Royval’s fighting style?
Brandon Royval combines a chaotic, volume-heavy striking approach with elite-level Brazilian jiu-jitsu submission skills. His southpaw stance, combined with exceptional footwork and unorthodox movement, makes him difficult to predict. He’s known for scrambles, transitions, and willingness to engage in all areas of fighting. His aggressive nature often translates into high-output fights that consistently earn Fight of the Night bonuses.
2. Why is Brandon Royval called “Raw Dawg”?
The nickname stems from multiple sources. Partially, it reflects his fighting style—raw, unfiltered, aggressive approach without polish. However, Royval himself has humorously referenced that the nickname also relates to his personal relationship history and approach to life as a father. He represents an authentic, street-level fighter personality rather than polished celebrity fighter archetype.
3. How many times has Brandon Royval fought for the UFC title?
Brandon Royval has fought for the UFC Flyweight Championship once, losing via unanimous decision to Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 296 on December 16, 2023. Prior to reaching the UFC, he won the Legacy Fighting Alliance Flyweight Championship by defeating Nate Williams via first-round armbar in November 2019.
4. What is Brandon Royval’s best submission technique?
Royval demonstrates exceptional proficiency across multiple submission techniques, including guillotine chokes, armbars, triangles, and arm-triangle chokes. However, his signature moves appear to be the guillotine choke (used to defeat both Kai Kara-France and Matt Schnell) and triangle choke submissions. Nine of his seventeen professional victories came via submission, representing 53% of his wins.
5. How many Fight of the Night bonuses has Brandon Royval earned?
Brandon Royval has earned five UFC Fight of the Night bonuses throughout his career, more than any other fighter in UFC Flyweight division history. These bonuses came from fights against Tim Elliott (UFC debut), Kai Kara-France, Matt Schnell, Tatsuro Taira, and Joshua Van, demonstrating his consistency in delivering exciting performances.
6. Does Brandon Royval have college experience?
No, Brandon Royval did not attend college. Instead, he chose to pursue mixed martial arts professionally starting in 2012 at age twenty. He previously worked as a youth services specialist in the juvenile justice system before transitioning to full-time MMA competition and training.
7. What is Brandon Royval’s record against former champions?
Royval has competed against multiple former or current champions. He defeated Brandon Moreno (a former interim UFC flyweight champion) at UFC Fight Night 237 via split decision rematch after losing their initial meeting. He challenged current champion Alexandre Pantoja twice, losing both encounters. He also faced Joshua Van, who represented a title-eliminator fight, in June 2025.
8. How much does Brandon Royval typically earn per UFC fight?
Brandon Royval’s earnings vary significantly based on fight circumstances. For title fights, he earned approximately $197,000 at UFC 296 (though this figure includes fight week incentives). For regular UFC Fight Night events, base pay ranges from $70,000-$110,000, with win bonuses typically matching base pay. Performance bonuses add $50,000 when earned. Overall, recent fight purses range from $146,000-$250,000 depending on event status and bonuses.
9. Is Brandon Royval involved in community work or coaching?
Yes, Brandon Royval actively contributes to his Denver community. He works as a jiu-jitsu instructor at Factory X Muay Thai and previously worked in the juvenile justice system. He regularly visits the Denver Dream Center, mentoring youth weekly and emphasizing that fighting provided him purpose and pulled him away from potentially destructive paths. He views mentoring younger generations as equally important as his fighting career.
10. What are Brandon Royval’s upcoming goals in the UFC?
As of December 2025, Brandon Royval’s primary goal remains capturing the UFC Flyweight Championship. Despite losing to Joshua Van at UFC 317, Royval continues competing at the highest level. With a record approaching 17 wins, elite submission skills, and consistent performance bonuses, he seeks another title shot opportunity. Beyond fighting, he aspires to build generational wealth through fighting success while maintaining his grounded Denver lifestyle and community involvement.