Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van -125 O/U 1.5
Get ready for fireworks as No. 1 contender Brandon Royval takes on surging prospect Joshua Van in a high-stakes flyweight clash at UFC 317 in Las Vegas. This bout wasn’t originally on the card—Royval was set to face Manel Kape in a title eliminator, but when Kape withdrew due to injury, Van stepped in on short notice.
🧠 Tale of the Tape
| Fighter | Brandon Royval | Joshua Van |
|---|---|---|
| Record | 17-7 | 14-2 |
| Age | 32 | 23 |
| Height | 5’9″ | 5’5″ |
| Reach | 68″ | 66″ (approx.) |
| UFC Ranking | #1 Flyweight | #12 Flyweight |
| Style | Dynamic grappler/striker | Crisp boxer, fast hands |
🔍 What to Watch For
- Royval’s Experience: He’s only lost to champions like Pantoja and Moreno, and owns wins over top-tier fighters like Kai Kara-France and Moreno (in a rematch).
- Van’s Momentum: Riding a four-fight win streak, including a dominant finish over Bruno Silva just weeks ago at UFC 316.
- Short Notice Factor: Van is stepping in fresh but unprepared for Royval’s unorthodox style and elite grappling.
🧪 Prediction Breakdown
- Royval’s Path to Victory: Mixes striking with relentless scrambles. If he gets Van to the ground, his submission game could be decisive.
- Van’s Upset Potential: He’s got sharp boxing and solid takedown defense. If he keeps it standing, he could outpoint Royval or land something big.
💰 Betting Odds Snapshot
- Van: Slight favorite at -125
- Royval: Underdog at +105
Prediction:
This is going to be a banger! The handicap on this fight is simple. It really has to do with the amount of rounds that this fight is scheduled to go. I think that Rovyall is the more rounded fighter with a big strength of opponent advantage. The problem with this fight and all light weight fights, is that volume is key. Royvall’s path to victory is wrestling his opponent, but there will not be enough time in this matchup for takedowns. Joshua van has an 81% take-down defense, and over three rounds he will not tire out. Joshua Vann is a boxer, and he is going to throw. Van lands 8.2 significant strikes per round, while Rovall is low for this weight at 4.46. Brandon will also have to be careful as Van does know how to shoot take-downs while Royval only has a 45% take-down defense. I like the up and coming guy here in a three round fight. The number isn’t too much to lay.
Joshua Van -125 – 1.5 stars
Bonus Play: Beniel Dariush -105 – 1 star (BetMGM) – Dariush is better than Moicano no matter how you slice it. He will have advantages both standing and on the ground. He also has better defense.
