Another name gets added to Joshua Van’s shortlist of title challengers on Saturday night, as top-five flyweights Brandon Royval and Lone’er Kavanagh duke it out at UFC 329: McGregor vs. Holloway 2 in Las Vegas.
Royval (17–9, 7–5 UFC) has dropped back-to-back bouts, most recently suffering a first-round knockout at the hands of Manel Kape in December. Kavanagh (10–1, 3–1 UFC) rebounded from his first professional loss in February with a commanding unanimous decision win over former champ Brandon Moreno.
Kavanagh enters as a heavy -218 moneyline favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook. Royval is a +180 underdog, with the fight total set at O/U 2.5 rounds.
Royval vs. Kavanagh Preview
Brandon Royval (#4)
- 17–9 (7–5 UFC)
- 4–2 (T)KO
- 9–1 SUB
Brandon Royval is looking to turn the page on a disappointing 2025. The former title challenger came up short in a three-round war with eventual champion Joshua Van before getting knocked out cold by Manel Kape in December. “Raw Dawg” has now dropped three of his last five bouts dating back to his championship loss against Alexandre Pantoja at the end of 2023.
Still, Royval remains one of the most exciting — and dangerous — contenders at 125 pounds. The American southpaw is a high-output brawler with black-belt jiu-jitsu, backed by a towering 5-foot-9 frame (for his division). But his spotty defense remains a glaring red flag — and at 33, his chin may no longer be able to match his breakneck pace.
Lone’er Kavanagh (#5)
- 10–1 (3–1 UFC)
- 4–1 (T)KO
- 1–0 SUB
With just four UFC fights under his belt, England’s Lone’er Kavanagh has already conquered a former champion. In February, the surging English prospect bounced back from his first professional loss — a second-round KO against Charles Johnson last August — with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Brandon Moreno.
In Moreno’s backyard of Mexico City, the black-belt kickboxer fired off whiplash-inducing combinations with equal parts explosiveness and precision. He also flashed his sound defensive grappling, stuffing each of Moreno’s eight takedown attempts.
Still just 27, Kavanagh has a long UFC career ahead of him and should have several opportunities to break into title contention. But just as he did against Moreno, he’ll be looking to expedite the process with another statement win on Saturday night.
Royval vs. Kavanagh Pick, Best Bet
The equation seems relatively straightforward. While Royval is a formidable striker, he plays defense as if he enjoys getting punched in the face — a fatal flaw that caught up with him in his last bout against Kape. Kavanagh, meanwhile, is armed with fists full of concrete. Kavanagh’s strong takedown defense should neutralize the ground game, turning Saturday’s bout into target practice for the explosive Englishman.
