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USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Farah Hannoun and Nolan King

Brandon Royval expects title shot or backup role with statement win over Matheus Nicolau at UFC on ESPN 44

Brandon Royval UFC Matheus Nicolau ESPN ESPN 44 Alexandre Pantoja Brandon Moreno Kai KaraFrance MMA Junkie

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Brandon Royval doesn’t see how he wouldn’t be next in line for the flyweight title with a win at UFC on ESPN 44.

Royval (14-6 MMA, 4-2 UFC) faces fellow top-five flyweight Matheus Nicolau (19-3-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) on Saturday’s prelims at T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Mo. The main card airs on ESPN following prelims on ESPN+.

With Alexandre Pantoja getting the title shot against champion Brandon Moreno, and Deiveson Figueiredo having just lost his belt, Royval doesn’t see any other viable contenders. The only other flyweight ranked above him is Kai Kara-France, whom he submitted at UFC 253.

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