This Saturday, UFC 317 will feature a huge flyweight clash between Brandon Royval and Joshua Van at T‑Mobile Arena. Both of these fighters are ranked in the flyweight division, with Royval set to potentially earn a shot at the flyweight title against the winner of the fight after this on the card. Here, we take a closer look at this huge flyweight bout and make our Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van prediction.
Our Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van Pick
- Pick: Brandon Royval moneyline
- Confidence: ★★★★☆
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Tale of the Tape
| Brandon Royval | Joshua Van | |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 32 | 23 |
| Reach | 70.5″ | 65″ |
| Stance | Southpaw | Orthodox |
| Record | 17‑7‑0 | 14‑2‑0 |
Royval vs Van Preview
At 32, Brandon Royval enters this bout as the number-one ranked flyweight contender in UFC, bringing a potent blend of wrestling, forward pace, and finishing power. With 9 submissions, 4 knockouts, and 10 first‑round stoppages, Royval has shown an ability to overwhelm opponents early. His split‑decision victory over Tatsuro Taira in October 2024 demonstrated both heart and championship‑level durability against quality competition.
Joshua Van, 23, is stepping up on short notice after a spectacular first UFC finish at UFC 316 via third‑round TKO against Bruno Silva. Riding a four‑fight win streak in the UFC and ranked 12th in the division rankings, Van has impressed with accurate striking and athletic wrestling. His youth, momentum, and fearless approach has made him a slight favorite in the eyes of oddsmakers going into this huge fight.
Betting Insights
- Opening odds had Van as a solid -260 favorite, with Royval as +220 underdog. Soon those shifted to near‑even with Van at -115 and Royval at -115 at DraftKings Sportsbook.
- This fight is expected to go the distance, with the over/under set at 2.5 rounds and the over juiced all the way to -230 at DraftKings.
- Royval has seen his last three fights go to the judges.
- Three of Van’s last four fights have gone to decisions, with his most recent win over Silva being the exception.
Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van Prediction
This should be an entertaining battle between experience and youth in the flyweight division. Royval is battle‑tested against elite foes like Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Moreno and excels in scrambles. His pressure, wrestling, and submission wizardry create a high finish potential in early rounds.
Van will rely on precise striking and his takedown defense to try and win this fight. While he did get a late knockout win in his last fight, history suggests he may not maintain his striking output if Royval drags him into deep waters.
Considering the stylistic matchups of this matchup, Royval’s wrestling and volume striking should neutralize Van’s offense. Expect Royval to control the tempo and find a way to win this fight either by decision or via a late-round stoppage to set up a fight with the winner of Pantoja vs Kara-France.
Pick: Royval moneyline, either via decision or late-round stoppage.
