Brandon Royval Shocks Alexandre Pantoja in Flyweight Title Rematch at UFC 327

On December 13, 2025, the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, erupted as Brandon “Raw Dawg” Royval captured the UFC flyweight title with a stunning fourth-round TKO over Alexandre Pantoja at 2:45, avenging his 2023 loss in a rematch for the ages. Royval, the American submission specialist, landed 78 of 132 significant strikes (59% accuracy) and secured two knockdowns, overwhelming Pantoja’s grappling with chaotic scrambles and volume. Pantoja, the Brazilian champion, controlled 6:40 early but landed 62 of 115 strikes (54%), fading late and dropping to 28-6. The 18,000-strong crowd, a sold-out frenzy of Vegas fight fans, roared as Royval’s resilience shone, chanting “Raw Dawg!” in the neon-lit arena. Airing live on ESPN+ at 10:00 p.m. ET, this headliner, part of a card featuring Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall in heavyweight unification, delivered a Fight of the Year contender, with X posts like @UFC tweeting, “Royval’s chaos reigns—Pantoja dethroned in Vegas!” This rematch flipped the script, crowning Royval as flyweight’s new king while positioning Pantoja for an immediate trilogy.

Fight Overview

The Royval vs. Pantoja 2 main event topped UFC 327’s main card, a 12-fight event with prelims at 6:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+ and the main card at 8:00 p.m. ET on ESPN+. Slated for 10:00 p.m. ET, the five-round bout was Pantoja’s third defense since winning the belt in 2023, with the winner eyeing a potential bantamweight move. Royval, the +185 underdog (BetMGM), entered seeking revenge after their 2023 decision, while Pantoja, at -225, aimed to solidify his reign. X hype was massive, with @MMABuzzX tweeting, “Royval’s scrambles vs. Pantoja’s BJJ—rematch madness in Vegas,” and @CageVibeX predicting a “late finish or decision war.” The T-Mobile Arena’s 18,000 fans, fueled by Vegas’s fight-week festivities like fan expos on the Strip and Fremont Street parties, created a deafening vibe. Fan predictions split 52% for Pantoja’s experience and 48% for Royval’s upset, per @SkyBet polls, with the bout billed as flyweight’s defining rivalry.

Brandon Royval: The 33-year-old from Denver, Colorado, entered with a 17-7 record (7-3 UFC), including 3 knockouts and 11 submissions. At 5’9” with a 68-inch reach, the orthodox fighter’s 5.5 significant strikes per minute and 3.2 takedowns per fight (UFC Stats) define his chaotic style. His 2025 submission of Brandon Moreno showcased his scrambles. Trained at Factory X, X clips show Royval drilling guillotines with Justin Gaethje. @MMAJunkie notes, “Royval’s a wildcard—upset machine.”

Alexandre Pantoja: The 35-year-old from Arraial do Cabo, Brazil, carried a 28-5 record (12-3 UFC), with 8 knockouts and 10 submissions. At 5’5” with a 67-inch reach, the southpaw’s 4.2 takedowns per fight and 52% striking accuracy (UFC Stats) highlight his BJJ mastery. His 2025 decision over Kai Kara-France marked his dominance. Training at American Top Team, X footage shows Pantoja sharpening chokes with Dustin Poirier. @BetsMMAX tweets, “Pantoja’s -225 odds reflect his grappling edge.”

The Fight: Round-by-Round Breakdown

Round 1: The Vegas crowd roars as Royval opens with a flying knee, testing Pantoja’s guard. Pantoja counters with a low kick, shooting for a single-leg at 1:15, securing control for 2:20 and landing short punches. Royval scrambles up, landing a spinning elbow, but Pantoja’s pressure edges it, landing 16 of 28 significant strikes to Royval’s 14 of 30 (UFC Stats). @UFC scores it 10-9 Pantoja, tweeting, “Alexandre’s takedown sets the early pace.”

Round 2: Royval starts aggressively, landing a question mark kick at 0:50, but Pantoja clinches for a takedown at 1:40, controlling for 1:50. Royval threatens a guillotine on the way up, reversing to top position briefly. Royval lands 18 of 32 strikes to Pantoja’s 15 of 28. @CagePulseUFC calls it 10-9 Royval, noting, “Brandon’s chaos is alive—scramble city.”

Round 3: Pantoja ups the grappling, landing a body lock takedown at 1:00, but Royval explodes up, landing a knee that wobbles Pantoja. Royval’s volume surges, landing 20 of 35 strikes to Pantoja’s 12 of 25. @SherdogX scores it 10-9 Royval, tweeting, “Royval’s turning the tide—Vegas feels the shift.”

Round 4: Trailing, Pantoja presses, but Royval counters with a right hook that drops Pantoja at 1:30. Royval pounces with ground-and-pound, forcing referee Herb Dean to stop it at 2:45. Royval lands 20 of 35 strikes in the round. @UFC_CA confirms the TKO, tweeting, “Royval’s a champion—shock in Vegas!”

Key Moments and Impact

• Royval’s Scrambles: His 4 reversals and 59% striking accuracy overwhelmed Pantoja late, landing 78 of 132 significant strikes overall to Pantoja’s 62 of 115 (54%). @MMAVibeX tweeted, “Royval’s chaos broke Pantoja—new champ!”
• Pantoja’s Early Control: His 6:40 ground time showed dominance, with @BetsX365 noting, “Alexandre started strong, but faded.”
• Fourth-Round Hook: The right hook and ground-and-pound sealed it, per @FightFanX: “Royval’s TKO was explosive—rematch avenged.”
• Fan Reaction: T-Mobile’s 18,000 fans erupted, with X splitting 55% for Royval (@UFC_Brazil: “Raw Dawg’s king”) and 45% for Pantoja’s grit (@showtimebets67: “Alexandre’s a warrior”).

Post-Fight Analysis and Implications

In his post-fight interview with Joe Rogan, Royval called for a trilogy, saying, “Pantoja’s tough—let’s run it back!” His eighth UFC win, including a $50,000 Performance of the Night bonus, crowns him flyweight champ. His 5.5 strike rate and scramble ability highlight his uniqueness, though Pantoja’s early control tested his gas tank. @TheAthleticMMA: “Royval’s the division’s new face.”

Pantoja, gracious in defeat, told ESPN, “Brandon was better tonight—congrats, champ.” His sixth loss (28-6) demands a rematch, with X suggesting an immediate trilogy. @maniacbetsmma: “Pantoja’s still elite—trilogy incoming.” Flyweight heats up, with Moreno and Manel Kape lurking.

Event Context and Las Vegas Atmosphere

UFC 327 dazzled with Jones’ submission of Aspinall and a KO by Shavkat Rakhmonov. Prelims featured a decision by Muhammad Mokaev. T-Mobile’s 18,000 fans, amid Strip expos and Fremont concerts, created electric vibes. @UFC tweeted, “Vegas brings the shocks!” 70% finish rate and ESPN+ success marked a classic.

What’s Next?

Royval defends vs. Pantoja 3 at UFC 330; Pantoja eyes trilogy in March. Royval’s TKO cements his reign, with legacy fights next.

Royval vs. Pantoja 2 on December 13, 2025, saw Brandon Royval TKO Alexandre Pantoja in Round 4, his chaos and 59% striking accuracy dethroning the champ. T-Mobile’s electric roar and stacked card amplified the stakes. As Royval celebrates and Pantoja demands trilogy, this defines flyweight’s future.