UFC Vegas 98: Royval vs Taira – 10.12.2024 – Fight Predictions and Analysis
Welcome to our collaborative coverage of UFC Vegas 98: Royval vs Taira. We return to action in Las Vegas tonight for another slate of bouts at The Apex. Our analysis includes a pick for every bout from Dynes Sports contributors Anthony Marro and Nicholas Marro.
As coverage continues, we will keep our records up to date below. Be sure to check out our full reasoning for every pick though as records will not reflect confidence. We will be picking every fight, but likely only recommend betting on a select few.
Current Record
- Anthony: 248-152-0 (Last Year 307-199-6, 61%)
- Nick: 239-161-0 (Last Year 324-182-6, 64%)
*Fight odds were last updated from Bet99 on 10-11-2024 at 11pm EST
Preliminary Card- Starts 4:00pm EST
Clayton Carpenter -220 vs Lucas Rocha +180
- Anthony: The card today opens with flyweights Clayton Carpenter and Lucas Rocha. This is the promotional debut for Rocha who enters this bout at 17-1. The 24 year old still seems to be developing, adding weapons to his arsenal and extending fights more as his opponents begin to improve. None of his wins are noteworthy but the pure skills are there. His striking is dynamic and for a flyweight he has rather jarring power. Carpenter is much further developed and more consistent than Rocha overall. He has a size advantage in this matchup that should allow him to find success with his hands. Carpenter has earned some good wins on the way to 7-0 and I am a fan of his style. He should have no problem scoring timely takedowns here against Rocha and then going to work on the mat. Carpenter does not wait long to take advantage of top position, reigning down blows and attempting submissions. He should feel confident that he can score a takedown in this matchup anytime that he needs to. Carpenter is a confident pick of mine opening the night. I only fear him losing if Rocha can land a knockout which does not come easy in this weight class. Clayton Carpenter by Decision
- Nick: Clayton Carpenter is coming off a solid win in his UFC debut, via first round submission over Juancamilo Ronderos. Prior to that, he had secured a solid Contender Series win over another UFC main-stay in Edgar Chairez. Carpenter is a strong grappler with advanced BJJ offensively. He’s a decent striker at range capable of putting power behind his strikes, but he throws from odd angles which can leave him open to be countered. He is 7-0 professionally and 28-years old, but relatively speaking – he’s still early in his development as a prospect. Lucas Rocha will be making his UFC debut here, coming off an impressive win on Contender Series by knockout over a decent prospect in Davi Bittencourt. Rocha is 24-years old and 17-1 professionally. He’s a gifted athlete and well-rounded for his age, entering this match-up with ten wins via KO and four via submission. He’s dangerous everywhere offensively, with surprising power for his frame. He has slick BJJ offensively, but his takedown entries and general wrestling ability do seem to leave a lot to be desired. Carpenter is the better BJJ player in this match-up, but Rocha likely has a considerable striking advantage. If Carpenter can’t find an early submission, I do expect Rocha to keep this close. Still, I’m siding with the favorite here. I expect Rocha can close the distance quickie and drag this fight to the mat. Clayton Carpenter by Round One Submission
Cody Haddon -185 vs Dan Argueta +150
- Anthony: Next is a fight at bantamweight between Dan Argueta and Cody Haddon. This is the promotional debut for Haddon who earned a contract on this season of Dana White’s Contender Series. He is a promising young fighter with a bright future ahead of him in the promotion. The only loss to Haddon’s credit as a professional came against former title challenger Steve Erceg. Haddon has otherwise disposed of his opponents on the Australian regional scene. Argueta provides a tough stylistic test for Haddon as he faces such a good grappler here in his debut. Argueta is coming off a loss to Jean Matsumoto by guillotine choke. It was upsetting to see Argueta caught in that submission after controlling the fight to that point. He is a very skilled fighter who blends in wrestling to find great success in his fights. I thought very highly of Argueta before but I fear perhaps he has peaked a bit too early. It seems that Argueta cannot put the pace like he once did and now I see him making careless mistakes in every fight. I am going against Argueta today instead of again risking my money on him. Haddon has the better striking and skill enough to compete with Argueta here on the ground. Cody Haddon by Decision
- Nick: Cody Haddon will be making his UFC debut here, coming off a Contender Series win via submission over a popular prospect in Billy Brand. Haddon is 7-1 professionally, with five professional wins via KO and two via submission. He’s aggressive offensively, and all of his professional wins have come inside the distance. Haddon pushes a serious pace, but it sometimes causes his gas tank to deplete beyond comfort. Daniel Argueta is primarily a grappler with a solid wrestling base. Four of his nine professional wins have come via submission. He’s a decent striker, but he has very short arms. He has decent power, but he’s far from technical on the feet and he struggles to close distance against longer/lankier opponents. His aggressive style does create openings for his opponents to capitalize on, both in striking exchanges and on the mat. Argueta will have a chance to pull off the upset here, if he can consistently score takedowns and hold position. However, I expect Haddon to mostly keep this fight standing. Haddon is the much better striker in this match-up, and with Argueta missing weight it’s tough to back him as an underdog. Additionally, Haddon is a dangerous BJJ player if this fight hits the mat. Cody Haddon by Decision
Julia Polastri -125 vs Cory McKenna +105
- Anthony: This is a fight at women’s strawweight between Julia Polastri and Cory McKenna. Polastri last competed this June, losing to Josefine Knutsson here in Las Vegas. Both of these young women still have a long way to go in terms of developing their skill sets. Polastri is a more dangerous striker than McKenna and she will likely have the edge while these two are competing at kickboxing range. Her boxing is tighter than McKenna landing more consistent shots to the head. Polastri has proven to be a capable grappler but McKenna is much more effective when it comes to utilizing her wrestling and securing takedown attempts. McKenna made an error in her last fight, taking down Jaqueline Amorim and subsequently being submitted. She is better advised shooting here today against an opponent who may struggle to find her way back upright. I find myself backing McKenna here although this fight is appropriately lined near pick em. It’s likely going to go the full distance with McKenna earning the judge’s decision. Cory McKenna by Decision
- Nick: Polastri is 12-3 professionally, with four wins via KO and three via submission. She’s still rounding into form as she’s only 26-years old, but she’s relatively well rounded and it can be expected we see her make considerable improvements from fight to fight. She’s coming off a loss in her UFC debut, where she was outclassed on the feet by Josefine Knutsson. She had trouble closing distance in that match-up, and she’ll be looking to get back in the win column here against a somewhat inconsistent opponent in Cory McKenna. Cory McKenna has a very strong wrestling base and does a good job finding submissions against inferior grapplers. She’s still a bit early in her career development, but she’s already very strong for her age and capable of scoring takedowns from a variety of positions. Her striking continues to improve, but she’s hittable in exchanges and she doesn’t really throw with much power or speed. This is a tough fight to call as both of these women are inconsistent. McKenna should have a wrestling advantage, and Polastri should manage to stay a step ahead on the feet. Another low confidence play, but I’ll take a shot on the underdog as the better wrestler in this matchup. Cory McKenna by Decision
Junior Tafa -300 vs Sean Sharaf +240
- Anthony: Next is a matchup at heavyweight between Sean Sharaf and Junior Tafa. This matchup came together after Tafa was originally scheduled to fight Chris Barnett who was unable to travel. Sharaf is a local fighter from Las Vegas taking this opportunity on very short notice. He is a 4-0 professional but I find it very tough to gauge Sharaf’s skillset with the level of competition he has faced so far. Sharaf has gone after opponents quickly in every fight, relying on his hands and connecting with a first round knockout in each appearance. He is big and strong but I am not sure what Sharaf offers in terms of his defense, durability or grappling skills. Tafa is not a very talented heavyweight but he is much more experienced and likely to perform well here. Tafa has struggled with recent UFC opponents but I am not convinced that Sharaf is necessarily on his level. Tafa’s kickboxing should win out as this fight gets into the latter half of round one. He should prove much lighter on his feet than Sharaf and more accurate when it comes to landing his counters. You can take your chances with Sharaf here at plus money but I would rather side with the more skilled professional. Tafa should cruise in this matchup as long as he does not get caught early. Junior Tafa by Round One KO
- Nick: Sean Sharaf will be making his UFC debut here, as he’s taking this fight on short notice as a replacement for Chris Barnett. Sharaf is 31-years old and 4-0 professionally, with all four of his wins coming via first round KO. He fights out of a decent camp via Xtreme Couture, but he really hasn’t been tested against an opponent at or near UFC level. Sharaf is a striker, who carries power but also seems hittable in exchanges. He really hasn’t been tested against anyone near UFC level, so he’s a very difficult fighter to get a read on in his debut. Junior Tafa had a lot of hype coming into the promotion, but he has been mostly a disappointment so far. He has knockout power, but his cardio is suspect and he hasn’t really shown technical boxing ability on the level of other up-and-comers in this division. His defensive grappling has been a major hole in his game. He is now 5-3 professionally, 1-3 in the UFC, and there is a good chance he’ll be cut from the promotion if he can’t secure a win in this spot. This a low level heavyweight match-up, which means it’s likely a volatile one. Still, I will side with Tafa as the favorite as we’ve seen him tested against a much higher level of opponent. I expect this one ends quickly either way. Junior Tafa by Round One KO
Themba Gorimbo -400 vs Niko Price +300
- Anthony: This is a contest at welterweight between Niko Price and Themba Gorimbo. We saw Price earn a much needed win in his last appearance at UFC 302. He relied heavily on his wrestling in route to that decision victory over Alex Morono. Price is now 35 and he looks even older than that when he is in the cage. The strategy to wrestle does benefit Price as he absorbs fewer significant strikes while grounded. Gorimbo however has proven to be a very good grappler. I think that Gorimbo can counter the shots from Price here, keeping the bout standing if he would like to. Gorimbo should have the edge over Price in terms of speed and power at this juncture of their careers. His striking is continuing to develop and Gorimbo certainly has a higher motor than that of Niko. I am reluctant to bet on Gorimbo today as these odds have swelled but he is no doubt the rightful favorite in this matchup with Price. Themba Gorimbo by Round Two KO
- Nick: Themba Gorimbo is a powerful striker, capable of throwing a wide range of creative attacks offensively. That being said his defense and durability have shown to be weaknesses rather than strengths so far in his professional career. He likes to wrestle, but his takedown entries are not technically sound which makes it easy for most of his opponents to stay standing. He has been showing considerable improvements over his last few fights, but there is no denying he is still raw in his abilities. The UFC marketing machine has gotten behind him, and he’s been matched favorably since joining the promotion. While raw in his abilities, he is gifted athletically. Still, there is no denying this match-up with Price represents a considerable step up for him in terms of level of competition. Niko Price will have a massive experience advantage in this match-up. He’s fairly well-rounded, but he’s found most of his UFC success trading on the feet with notable wins over Alex Oliveira, Tim Means, Randy Brown, and most recently Alex Morono. Ten of his sixteen professional wins have come via KO. In his prime, he was quick and explosive. However, there’s no denying he’s in the twilight of his career. Price will have a size and power advantage here, but his durability is a major concern as he’s getting up there in age. He’s taken a lot of damage in most of his fights, and there’s no denying he’s a step slower both in striking exchanges and in scrambles. The line feels wide as Gorimbo is still raw in his abilities, but I expect his physicality and speed advantages should be enough for him to secure a win. Price is tough, but I see Gorimbo having the bigger moments. Themba Gorimbo by Decision
Jonathan Pearce -185 vs Pat Sabatini +150
- Anthony: This should be a great matchup at featherweight between Jonathan Pearce and Pat Sabatini. These are two very highly skilled grapplers that could meet in a peculiar clash of styles. Both men are coming off losses, with Sabatini having not fought since facing Diego Lopes last November. I give massive respect to Sabatini’s BJJ black belt, but he tends to struggle getting into the positions where he can fully display his skills. While Sabatini makes easy work of strikers, skilled wrestlers have proven too much for him in the past. Pearce’s great wrestling should allow him to dictate where this bout takes place. I trust in his takedown defense here if Sabatini is relentlessly chasing takedowns. Pearce has also really advanced his striking working with the team at Fight Ready. His boxing is better than Sabatini’s and Pearce throws great kicks that will chew up the legs early. He is longer than Sabatini and also better at connecting from range. I do consider this a tough fight to predict but at near even odds I think Pearce is the clear choice for me. It will be very difficult for Sabatini to win minutes or find himself a win via choke. Jonathan Pearce by Decision
- Nick: Jonathan Pearce fights at a torrid pace and throws a lot of volume as a striker. He doesn’t carry much power in his individual shots, but he can hurt his opponents and put them away with consistent pressure and volume. He has a solid wrestling base and decent BJJ, and he does an excellent job finding top position out of scrambles. He does a good job grinding opponents up against the cage and he’s one of the more underrated grapplers in the world at featherweight. As talented as he is, Pearce is coming off back-to-back losses for the first time since 2017. There’s a chance he’s fighting to hold his roster spot in this match-up with Sabatini. Sabatini is a well-rounded fighter with decent striking ability and slick BJJ. He is excellent in scrambles, he has shown solid body-lock takedown ability and his greatest strength comes via his strong wrestling base and takedown entries. Sabatini has been out of action since November of 2023, after falling to a surging prospect in Diego Lopes via submission. This is a match-up between two similar fighters that both favor taking their fights to the mat. Sabatini’s chin and durability are certainly concerning here, but I expect he can outgrapple Pearce as the stronger and more cerebral wrestler. I was discouraged by Pearce’s most recent fight where he was ou-tgrappled by David Onama. Sabatini is a much better grappler than Onama, so I expect he can pull off the upset as he mostly maintains top position. Pat Sabatini by Decision
Ramazan Temirov -350 vs CJ Vergara +280
- Anthony: The featured prelim is a fight at flyweight between CJ Vergara and Ramazan Temirov. This is the UFC debut for Temirov who enters the promotion 17-2. He’s a talented striker coming from Rizin with some quality wins the past year. Temirov’s resume as a whole is lacking but he is a fighter confident in his offense and willing to engage with anyone on his feet. His power seems significant for a flyweight and certainly he will land the bigger single shots here compared to Vergara. I will be interested to see how this bout plays out in round two and three. Vergara has struggled to defend opponent takedowns throughout his UFC tenure but Temirov does not often shoot on his foes. Vergara should be able to fight well here as Temirov presses forward with boxing attacks. Temirov will likely win this first round but Vergara kicks into a higher gear as his fights begin to wear on. Temirov needs to be careful not to go too hard too early or else I fear the underdog will end up taking this fight. Vergara is a good play here at these odds in a fight likely to go to decision. He is 3-3 in the promotion but 2-2 in fights that see the scorecards. CJ Vergara by Decision
- Nick: Ramazan Temirov will be making his UFC debut here, having most recently fought for the highly regarded Japanese regional promotion via RIZIN. Temirov is 17-2 professionally and he comes into this match-up on a nine-fight win streak. At 27 years-old it seems he is entering his athletic prime, and each of his last four wins have come via KO. Temirov is relatively well-rounded, but most of his success comes on the feet. He has devastating power for a flyweight, and he generally does a good job striking together lengthy combinations once he closes distance. CJ Vergara was once a highly regarded prospect as a former Flyweight Champion with FFC. He is 3-3 so far under the UFC banner, coming off a decision loss to Asu Almabaev back in March. He’s decent everywhere, but he’s gotten by on exceptional durability and cardio more than any standout offensive skill. He has recently had trouble making weight, and it seems he could already be slowing down at just 33 years-old, as most of his fights have been drawn out wars. His UFC record is solid, but he’s only found success against lower level strikers. In this match-up, I expect Temirov’s technical advantages on the feet to shine through. Vergara is always dangerous late as he has excellent cardio, but I’m not sure the fight gets that far. Ramazan Temirov by Round Two KO
Main Card- Starts 7:00pm EST
Daniel Rodriguez -220 vs Alex Morono +180
- Anthony: The main card opens with a good welterweight scrap between Alex Morono and Daniel Rodriguez. This seems like a fair matchup for both men who cannot expect to fight in the rankings anytime soon. Morono is now 34 years old and starting to look worse in each octagon appearance. His most recent showing against Niko Price was sloppy and uninspiring. Morono lands on average 4.96 significant strikes per minute but his differential has suffered drastically over the past few years. Morono strings together combinations well but he is no longer as fluid moving into and out of the pocket. Rodriguez is a very skilled southpaw boxer that should take advantage of Morono from range. We will be treated to several tight exchanges here in the pocket, given Morono’s persistence moving forward. Rodriguez will lead the dance utilizing better footwork and staying more conscious of his defenses. These fighters both struggle with stopping takedowns and they will be happy to oblige the other in a standup war tonight. If either man was to attempt a takedown I would expect it to be Morono. It is a lot to ask Morono to stand and trade with Rodriguez here for a full fifteen minutes. Daniel Rodriguez by Decision
- Nick: Daniel Rodriguez has very sharp boxing, which isn’t surprising as he is currently coached by Joe Schilling. He hasn’t really used his grappling much at the UFC level, but he holds a Brown Belt in BJJ via 10th Planet. He’s certainly a well-rounded fighter on paper, but he’s coming off three consecutive losses for the first time in his career. He’s another fighter who is very likely to be cut from the roster if he can’t secure a win in this spot. Morono is a well rounded fighter, but his greatest strengths are likely his sheer grit and toughness. He always moves forward, even when he’s taking damage. He has solid cardio, underrated power, and he’s well-versed on the mat as a BJJ black belt. Morono is a coach at Fortis MMA, and he has one of the better minds for the sport at welterweight. In spite of his strengths, Morono is anything but athletic and at 34-years old he does seem to be entering the twilight of his career. This is another volatile match-up between two inconsistent fighters. That being said, I find myself leaning towards the favorite here. Rodriguez’s technical superiority at boxing range should be enough to pull away here. Daniel Rodriguez by Decision
Grant Dawson -400 vs Rafa Garcia +300
- Anthony: Next is a bout at lightweight between Rafa Garcia and Grant Dawson. I think this fight will help measure the true ceiling of a talented boxer like Garcia. We have seen Garcia experience some success with his wrestling in the UFC. However, this matchup against Dawson will test his grappling defenses much more than ever before. Dawson is 21-2-1 but grinding his way back into the lightweight rankings. He is a very smart fighter that utilizes his grappling to excellent effect. Dawson makes a great blanket over his opponents, controlling whole rounds at a time with just one single takedown. I like that Dawson makes it a priority to establish dominant positions before attempting to hurt opponents or chase submission attempts. Garcia poses a threat to Dawson while this fight is on the feet but it is likely that we see a takedown attempt within the first sixty seconds of this one. Garcia’s power is not that substantial and while Dawson could get caught again here it seems incredibly unlikely. I feel safe betting on him today and including Dawson in the parlays that I build. Grant Dawson by Decision
- Nick: Dawson’s striking continues to improve, but there’s really no denying that most of his success has come on the mat. He is 21-2-1 professionally, holding impressive wins over Damir Ismagulov, Mark Madsen and Jared Gordon. Dawson has made dramatic improvements since he moved camps to the American Top Team. His cardio and overall fight IQ have improved dramatically. Garcia has decent offensive grappling but prefers to stand and trade. He usually comes out aggressive and he’s very dangerous early in fights, but he tends to fade in the later rounds. I expect his cardio to continue to improve as he recently shifted camps to Elevation Fight Team. Elevation is known for their excellent cardio as they train in the thin Colorado air, and I’m very impressed by Garcia’s decision to correct such a glaring hole in his game. Garcia has been out of action since April of 2023, following an impressive decision win over notable vet, Clay Guida. If Garcia can keep this standing he’ll be live for the upset, but that seems unlikely. Dawson is the much better wrestler in this match-up, he should be able to cruise to a win on the mat here. Grant Dawson by Decision
Chidi Njokuani -185 vs Jared Gooden +150
- Anthony: Next is a fight at welterweight between Chidi Njokuani and Jared Gooden. We saw Gooden miss weight yesterday by nearly two pounds. He has lost both previous UFC appearances when weighing in heavy. While I admit that Gooden is much better than I initially thought, he’s still rather limited in terms of his offensive attacks and potency finishing. A lot of Gooden’s best performances have come against the worst competition he has faced. Njokuani is a skilled kickboxer, much more technically skilled. He hits harder than Gooden and attacks with much heavier kicks. Njokuani has had some issues with cardio in the past but he appeared to correct those in his last showing. The move down to welterweight has benefited him tremendously in terms of both health and his career outlook. This fight does become dicey if Gooden is still there late but Njokuani is the side I want here regardless. He has been the betting favorite in every UFC appearance thus far. Chidi Njokuani by Round Two KO
- Nick: Chidi Njokuani is an extremely gifted striker who does his best work at range. He showed in his Contender Series win over Mario Sousa that he has decent BJJ as well, but he is certainly most comfortable when his fights stay standing. He has since turned in a 3-5 record in the UFC, most recently securing a decision win over Rhys McKee back in March. Jared Gooden was cut from the roster back in 2021, after carrying a 1-3 record against relatively tough competition. He returned to the roster back in March of 2023, falling to Carlston Harris via decision in a fight he took on less than a weeks’ notice and then more recently securing an impressive submission win over a tough out in Wellington Turman. He’s decent everywhere, but most comfortable standing and trading on his feet. He telegraphs most of his strikes and it’s rare we see him throw in combination, but he does have enough power to end a fight with a single shot. Gooden should have a durability and cardio advantage here, but with him missing weight for the fight that advantage is likely narrow. Njokuani is the much better technical striker in this match-up. I expect he can pick Gooden apart at range until he eventually finds a knockout. Chidi Njokuani by Round Two KO
Jun Yong Park -200 vs Brad Tavares +160
- Anthony: The co-main event is a middleweight matchup between Brad Tavares and Jun Yong Park. This booking was scheduled for July before Park withdrew due to a medical issue. Today will be the 25th fight of Tavares’ long UFC career. The veteran has struggled over the past several years winning only against other older, and slower opponents. Park does not move very quickly but his striking is solid and the chin appears to be above average on The Iron Turtle. Tavares is unlikely to hurt Park while striking but over the course of this bout I could see him landing the much better work. This matchup becomes more interesting as Park attempts to score some takedowns. While successful grappling against many opponents in the past, it will be very difficult for Park to crack Tavares’ elite takedown defense. Tavares has stopped 81 percent of opponent attempts and I do not think Park has the strength to simply overpower Tavares. This will be a competitive fifteen minutes likely fought at a meek pace. I do not expect either man to win this bout in convincing fashion. Brad Tavares by Decision
- Nick: Jun Yong Park is somewhat slow and plodding on the feet, but he does a good job keeping pressure on his opponents and forcing them to fight off their back foot. He is primarily a striker, but he’s well-rounded as he averages more than two successful takedowns per fifteen minutes. He’s mostly known for his durability, but he does sometimes leave himself open to be countered in exchanges. He has won seven of his last nine fights under the UFC banner, and he’ll be looking to build on that momentum here against another tough opponent in Brad Tavares. Brad Tavares is a talented vet who has been ranked at middleweight for years. He does a good job mixing in leg kicks to keep his opponents at range. He works well behind his jab, he throws meaningful shots and we’ve seen his chin tested on multiple occasions. Tavares is a competent wrestler, especially defensively. Still, that’s going to be a major key for him in this match-up. Tavares is capable of keeping this close, but I expect Park to be the more dangerous fighter here regardless of whether this fight stays standing or hits the mat. I expect Park can get back in the win column in convincing fashion. Jun Yong Park by Decision
Tatsuro Taira -300 vs Brandon Royval +240
- Anthony: The main event should be a fun fight at flyweight between Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira. This fight could catapult Taira to a title shot depending on the performance we see. Royval will have a decisive edge here striking with Taira but this bout should be super competitive on the mat. Taira’s grappling dominance has led him to a perfect record of 16-0. His judo is excellent and Taira holds a purple belt in jiu jitsu. Royval has never done well defending takedowns but he does attempt loads of reversals and often can fight out of positions when he is grounded. Royval will be creating as many scrambles as he can while Taira searches for a position he can hold. Over the course of five rounds, I think Royval could out-scramble Taira and land the more meaningful strikes. Taira will need to secure a dominant position early here to earn a comfortable win. I think this fight swings heavily into Royval’s favor the later it goes, especially with him having far more cage experience than Taira. Royval has only been submitted once before by the champion Alexandre Pantoja. It would be a huge statement if Taira is able to stop Royval today. He is the rightful favorite in this spot but Royval presents a great challenge for the 24 year old. It would not surprise me to see his perfect record tarnished here. Tatsuro Taira by Round Two Submission
- Nick: This is an excellent matchup between two of the best flyweights in the world. Tatsura Taira is an undefeated prospect who has primarily fought for Shooto in Japan. He’s only twenty-four years old, but he already has a well-rounded skill-set which is highlighted by high-level wrestling and BJJ. Taira is tall for the division. He’s explosive when he strikes, with solid range management and footwork. He sometimes leaves his chin out in exchanges, but he already has a good grasp of how to utilize his length. He is 4-0 in the UFC, most recently securing a win over Alex Perez via finish back in June. Brandon Royval is one of the more aggressive fighters there is on the roster. He starts fights like he’s shot out of a cannon. He is well-rounded with a solid chin but his crafty BJJ and dangerous offensive grappling ability is certainly his greatest strength. He has notable wins over Kai Kara-France, Matheus Nicolau, and most recently Brandon Moreno. He thrives in chaos and he’s done a good job forcing opponents to fight at his ridiculous pace. Taira is an extremely talented prospect, but this match-up with Royval represents a considerable step up in competition for him here. Royval is the better striker, and he’s been tested against a much higher level of opponent. That being said, Royval has shown major holes in his defensive grappling ability. The line is too wide, but I do expect Taira to eventually find a submission over the chaotic and aggressive Royval. I just can’t get past the fact that Royval is carrying a terrible 40% takedown defense into this matchup. Tatsuro Taira by Round Two Submission
-Nick Marro
Twitter: @NickMarroDFS
-Anthony Marro
Twitter: @AnthonyMarro_
Photo: UFC.com