​The pattern continues with Brandon Royval. The veteran flyweight has never seized UFC glory, yet he consistently drag-tests everyone who sits in the upper echelon of contenders into a brutal, three-round war. The latest challenger to feel that pressure was Lone’er Kavanagh, and the result did not bode well for the rising star. With 1:20 remaining in the fight, Royval sealed a three-round slugfest with a rear-naked choke, snapping a streak of losses and turning the momentum of the bout in his favor. After the victory, Royval showered Kavanagh with praise, calling him a “future champion” and then joking about a shared bonus for their performance.
Royval kicked off the night by proving he could dictate the pace, winning a fiercely contested first round on all three judges’ scorecards. The second round proved tougher, however, as Kavanagh landed a sharp counter right that floored Royval and shifted the dynamic of the fight. It became a testament to Royval’s resilience that he managed to rise from the knockdown and keep himself in the fight. Even when Royval found himself on the mat, Kavanagh was unable to finish, a moment he would come to regret as the tide turned in the third.
In the third round, Royval appeared momentarily wobbled but countered with enough offense to suggest he might still close out the victory on the judges’ scorecards—only to have the outcome altered by his late surge. Royval issued a performance that aligned with his recent recognition as a “Fight of the Year” contender, a nod he earned after a dramatic 2025 loss to Joshua Van that had many observers predicting a rough road ahead.
Royval’s back-to-back setbacks against Tatsuro Taira and Manel Kape mean a title shot remains out of reach for now. He redirected his focus with a respectful challenge to Asu Almabayev, signaling a willingness to embrace another unpredictable and entertaining matchup if the opportunity arises. For Kavanagh, the verdict is a reminder that a big win can be followed by a difficult stretch, and at only 27 years old, he has substantial work to do before he can be regarded as a consistent title threat.
As for the broader UFC 329 card, fans can revisit the complete results, highlights, and round-by-round breakdowns to catch every moment of this exhilarating night. The event once again underscored Royval’s role as a polarizing figure in the flyweight division—dangerous, resilient, and capable of stealing a fight in moments when it seems slipping away. The takeaway is clear: Royval’s evolution continues, Kavanagh’s potential remains intact, and the flyweight landscape continues to churn with high-octane battles that keep fans on the edge of their seats.