Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval was an MMA fight promoted and organized by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). This fight was scheduled for the co-main event of UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington on December 16, 2023. The fight was an electric 5-round matchup, with Pantoja emerging as the victor via unanimous decision.
Alexandre Pantoja, the current flyweight champion, won the title in his last outing against Mexico’s Brandon Moreno at UFC 290. The challenger, Brandon Royval, came off a spectacular KO win against the #5 ranked flyweight, Matheus Nicolau, at UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen. This fight was also Pantoja’s first title defense.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval Tale of the Tape
Alexandre ‘The Cannibal’ Pantoja faced Brandon ‘Raw Dawg’ Royval for the second time at UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington. Pantoja won the bout via a unanimous decision. This event took place on December 16, 2023, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Pantoja also emerged as the victor in their first matchup via a second-round rear-naked choke.
Alexandre Pantoja currently holds a record of 27 wins to 5 losses (27-5-0), with 8 victories coming in the form of a knockout, 10 via submission, and 9 wins by decision. On the other hand, Pantoja’s opponent, Brandon Royval, maintains a professional MMA record of 15 wins with 7 losses to his name (15-7-0). Royval has won 9 times via submission, 4 times by knockout, and twice via the judges decision.
Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval Stats
| Stats | Alexandre Pantoja | Brandon Royval |
| MMA Record | 27-5-0 | 15-7-0 |
| UFC Ranking (Flyweight) | Champion | 2 |
| Last Fight | Win | Win |
| Nationality | Brazilian | American |
| Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.65 m) | 5 ft 9 in (175 cm) |
| Weight | 125 lb (57 kg) | 125 lb (57 kg) |
| Reach | 68 in | 68 in |
| Leg Reach | 36.5 in | 38.5 in |
| Striking Accuracy | 48% | 38% |
| Takedown Accuracy | 44% | 100% |
| Takedown Defense | 66% | 39% |
| Win Streak (Active) | 5 | 0 |
| MMA Debut | 2007 | 2012 |
Alexandre Pantoja Record
Alexandre Pantoja boasts an MMA record of 27 wins to 5 losses (27-5-0). Pantoja’s has never lost via a stoppage. Pantoja is also a 5-time recipient of UFC bonuses, which include 3 Performance Of The Night and 2 Fight Of The Night.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location |
| Win | 27-5 | Brandon Royval | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 296 | December 16, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Win | 26–5 | Brandon Moreno | Decision (split) | UFC 290 | July 8, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Win | 25–5 | Alex Perez | Submission (neck crank) | UFC 277 | July 30, 2022 | 1 | 1:31 | Dallas, Texas, United States |
| Win | 24–5 | Brandon Royval | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum | August 21, 2021 | 2 | 1:46 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Win | 23–5 | Manel Kape | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov | February 6, 2021 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Loss | 22–5 | Askar Askarov | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Figueiredo vs. Benavidez 2 | July 19, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Win | 22–4 | Matt Schnell | KO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Edgar vs. The Korean Zombie | December 21, 2019 | 1 | 4:17 | Busan, South Korea |
| Loss | 21–4 | Deiveson Figueiredo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 240 | July 27, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada |
| Win | 21–3 | Wilson Reis | TKO (punches) | UFC 236 | April 13, 2019 | 1 | 2:58 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
| Win | 20–3 | Ulka Sasaki | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Magny vs. Ponzinibbio | November 17, 2018 | 1 | 2:18 | Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Win | 19–3 | Brandon Moreno | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. Usman | May 19, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Santiago, Chile |
| Loss | 18–3 | Dustin Ortiz | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 220 | January 20, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States |
| Win | 18–2 | Neil Seery | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Ponzinibbio | July 16, 2017 | 3 | 2:31 | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Win | 17–2 | Eric Shelton | Decision (split) | UFC on Fox: Shevchenko vs. Peña | January 28, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Win | 16–2 | Damacio Page | Technical Submission (triangle choke) | AXS TV Fights: RFA vs. Legacy FC 1 | August 5, 2015 | 2 | 5:00 | Robinsonville, Mississippi, United States |
| Win | 15–2 | Matt Manzanares | Submission (rear-naked choke) | RFA 18: Manzanares vs. Pantoja | December 9, 2014 | 2 | 2:38 | Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States |
| Win | 14–2 | Lincoln de Sá Oliveira | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 45 | December 20, 2013 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 13–2 | Daniel Araújo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Watch Out Combat Show 31 | November 1, 2013 | 1 | 2:13 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 12–2 | Rodrigo Favacho dos Santos | Submission (rear-naked choke) | MMA Fight Show - Summer Edition | March 16, 2013 | 1 | 4:29 | Arraial do Cabo, Brazil |
| Win | 11–2 | Lincoln de Sá Oliveira | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 32 | July 14, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 10–2 | Sandro Gemaque de Souza | KO (punches) | Fatality Arena Fight Night 1 | December 9, 2011 | 3 | 3:58 | Niterói, Brazil |
| Win | 9–2 | Samuel de Souza | TKO (elbows and punches) | WFC 4 - Pretorian | December 22, 2010 | 1 | 1:23 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 8–2 | Bruno Azevedo | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Shooto Brazil 18 | September 17, 2010 | 1 | N/A | Brasília, Brazil |
| Loss | 7–2 | Jussier Formiga | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 16 | June 12, 2010 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 7–1 | Ralph Alves | Decision (split) | Watch Out Combat Show 6 | December 12, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 6–1 | Magno Alves | KO (punch) | Watch Out Combat Show 5 | September 27, 2009 | 1 | N/A | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 5–1 | Michael William Costa | Decision (unanimous) | Shooto Brazil 13 | August 27, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Fortaleza, Brazil |
| Win | 4–1 | Bruno Moreno | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Shooto Brazil 12 | May 30, 2009 | 3 | 4:09 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 3–1 | Gabriel Wolff | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Shooto Brazil 11 | February 28, 2009 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Loss | 2–1 | William Vianna | Decision (split) | Watch Out Combat Show 2 | September 25, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 2–0 | Peterson Malfort | TKO (punches) | Rocinha Fight | August 2, 2008 | 2 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| Win | 1–0 | Antônio Carlos | Submission (armbar) | Hikari Fight | July 21, 2007 | 1 | 5:00 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
Brandon Royval Record
Brandon ‘Raw Dawg’ Royval maintains a professional MMA record of 15 wins to 7 losses in 22 fights (15-7-0). Royval made his UFC debut in 2020 and currently holds a UFC record of 5 wins and 3 losses in 8 appearances.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location |
| Win | 15-7 | Alexandre Pantoja | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 296 | December 16, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Win | 15–6 | Matheus Nicolau | KO (knee and elbows) | UFC on ESPN: Holloway vs. Allen | April 15, 2023 | 1 | 2:09 | Kansas City, Missouri, United States |
| Win | 14–6 | Matt Schnell | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 274 | May 7, 2022 | 1 | 2:14 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Win | 13–6 | Rogério Bontorin | Decision (split) | UFC on ESPN: Kattar vs. Chikadze | January 15, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Loss | 12–6 | Alexandre Pantoja | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Gastelum | August 21, 2021 | 2 | 1:46 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Loss | 12–5 | Brandon Moreno | TKO (punches) | UFC 255 | November 21, 2020 | 1 | 4:59 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Win | 12–4 | Kai Kara-France | Submission (guillotine choke) | UFC 253 | September 27, 2020 | 2 | 0:48 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |
| Win | 11–4 | Tim Elliott | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | UFC on ESPN: Woodley vs. Burns | May 30, 2020 | 2 | 3:18 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States |
| Win | 10–4 | Nate Williams | Submission (armbar) | LFA 79 | November 22, 2019 | 1 | 0:23 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States |
| Win | 9–4 | Joby Sanchez | Submission (armbar) | LFA 65 | May 3, 2019 | 1 | 3:17 | Vail, Colorado, United States |
| Loss | 8–4 | Casey Kenney | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 53 | November 9, 2018 | 5 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Win | 8–3 | Charles Johnson | Decision (unanimous) | LFA 48 | September 7, 2018 | 3 | 5:00 | Kearney, Nebraska, United States |
| Win | 7–3 | Jerome Rivera | TKO (arm injury) | LFA 39 | May 4, 2018 | 1 | 0:40 | Vail, Colorado, United States |
| Win | 6–3 | Demetrius Wilson | Submission (triangle choke) | LFA 22 | September 8, 2017 | 2 | 2:00 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States |
| Loss | 5–3 | Nick Urso | Decision (split) | LFA 10 | April 21, 2017 | 3 | 5:00 | Pueblo, Colorado, United States |
| Win | 5–2 | Rakan Adwan | Submission (armbar) | LFA 5 | February 24, 2017 | 1 | 1:54 | Broomfield, Colorado, United States |
| Win | 4–2 | Angel Torres | Submission (triangle choke) | SCL 53 | October 15, 2016 | 1 | 0:34 | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Loss | 3–2 | Ricky Palacios | Decision (unanimous) | Combate Americas: Road to the Championship 5 | May 26, 2016 | 3 | 5:00 | Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Win | 3–1 | Danny Mainus | KO (knee) | WSOF 29 | March 12, 2016 | 1 | 2:48 | Greeley, Colorado, United States |
| Win | 2–1 | Joey Welch | TKO (punches) | SCL: Mile High Mayhem | August 23, 2014 | 1 | 0:51 | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Loss | 1–1 | Ben VomBaur | Decision (unanimous) | Kick Down MMA 104 | October 19, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Win | 1–0 | Sammy Rind | TKO (elbows) | Kick Down MMA 102 | August 17, 2012 | 1 | 1:45 | Denver, Colorado, United States |
FAQs
A. Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval took place on December 16, 2023, as the co-main event of UFC 296.
A. Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. This venue was the same place where Pantoja won the title against Brandon Moreno.
A. Alexandre Pantoja holds an MMA record of 27-5-0 and is currently the UFC Flyweight champion.
A. Brandon Royval holds a respectable record of 15 wins to 7 losses (15-7-0).
A. Alexandre Pantoja is 33 years of age as of 2023.
A. Brandon Royval is of American nationality. He was born in Denver, Colorado, United States.
