UFC Fight Night: Cannonier vs Gastelum- Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval: Prediction and Analysis

The main card opener for UFC Vegas 34 sees a flyweight scrap between top contender Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Royval. The bout is bookmarked by many fans to be a lock for ‘Fight of the Night’ given the fighters’ styles. Not to mention, the next championship contender is likely to emerge from this bout.

The flyweight division has picked up steam in a massive way after the recent series between Deiveson Figueiredo and Brandon Moreno. Both men put on a show for the fans and there is a lot of hype to see the 125-pounders in action. Moreno became a massive star after his last outing and he’ll be watching the bout between Pantoja and Royval closely.

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UFC Vegas 34: Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval

Alexandre Pantoja is ranked number 3 in the division and is fresh off a unanimous decision win over Manel Kape. Despite his high ranking, he is 2-2 in his last four fights. However, it’s important to note that his losses have only come to the very best in the division.

‘The Cannibal’ is extremely consistent across the board and he’s well-rounded no matter where the fight goes. Not to mention, he can adapt on the fly and this makes him a threat for the entire duration of the contest. Royval will have to be wary of Pantoja’s power in close range as he has the ability to shut off the lights with well-orchestrated combinations.

Brandon Royval was on an impressive four-fight win streak that was snapped when he faced off against Brandon Moreno in his last fight. He lost the contest via first-round TKO and is keen to rebound to the winner’s circle. ‘Raw Dawg’ is ranked number 6 at flyweight and can make a giant leap in the right direction with a win.

Royval’s fast-twitch movement is his biggest asset and it could very well be a deciding factor when he faces Pantoja. He uses erratic forward movement to set up his strikes and very often uses angles to his advantage. He’ll have tremendous success if he can cut off the cage and keep the fight at distance with Pantoja backing up.

Prediction: Alexandre Pantoja to claim a second-round submission

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