Royval Steps Closer to Another Title Shot
Experience isn’t something you can short cut and you won’t know when the lack of it will cost you until it happens.
It wasn’t Taturo Taira’s first UFC main event, but the lessons learned of having fought UFC level competition since 2017 paid dividends for Brandon Royval. Royval offering slick tricks in the first round pulling Taira into his straight left hand. In the second & fourth rounds Taira worked his takedown and took Royval’s back. The boxing of Royval forcing Taira into desperate takedowns attempt in the fifth allowing Royval to take Taira’s back firing strikes and hunting a choke to cement a split decision win. Two fights removed from challenging for the title Royval has posted two decision wins over top five competition putting him right back in the conversation.
The co-main event also ended in a split decision with Jung Yong Park getting the nod over Brad Tavares. TUF 11’s Tavares had a hot start as a left hook right cross combination sat Park down. The South Korean walked Tavares down in the second landing big overhands. Park taking Tavares down for the final half of the third round making the difference.
Chidi Njokuani is 2-0 as a welterweight after a clean sweep of the scorecards against Jared Gooden. Njokuani wore down Gooden with knees & elbows in the clinch. Desperate to get the fight to the ground in the third Gooden pulled Njokuani on top of his allowing Njokuani to finish the fight in mount. Grant Dawson put Rafa Garcia on his back slicing him open and hammering his way to a second round TKO. Daniel Rodriguez adjusted to Alex Moron’s wide looping punches with pressure and linear strikes.Themba Gorimbo is now on a four-fight win streak after a convincing decision win over Nico Price. Price is an always game competitor, but Gorimbo was a step ahead in every area.
A huge night for the Flyweight division also saw two prospects make noise. Razonbek Temirov made a successful UFC debut stopping CJ Vergara in under three minutes. Temirov hurt Vergara with a left hook, swarming with punches finding the finish with a left hook to the liver shut Vergara down. Clayton Carpenter made it consecutive rear naked choke wins submitting Lucas Rocha in the second round to remain unbeaten. Full result available here.
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