Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval UFC 296 Live Updates Blog
Welcome to the live updates blog for Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval bout in the co-main event of UFC 296 PPV.
Pantoja defended UFC Flyweight Championship for the first time after winning it at UFC 290 from Brandon Moreno. Pantoja was on a 4-fight winning streak which included wins over Manel Kape, Royval himself, and Alex Perez. Royval emerged as a credible contender since his loss to Pantoja in their first match 2 years ago with three wins in a row. Was he able to carry the momentum though?
Tune in below as we post play-by-play updates from Alexandre Pantoja vs Brandon Royval from UFC 296 below.
LIVE UPDATES
Round 1
Pantoja charges with punches, but Royval does get hit as he gets back quickly. Pantoja tries for a takedown and Royval successfully defends it. Pantoja is keeping up with the punches. Royval counters with a right before he defends another takedown. Pantoja hits a couple of body kicks as the action slows down. Royval hits a calf kick. Pantoja gets a takedown as the second minute comes to an end. He is not able to do much on the ground though. Royval hits up kicks when Pantoja gets up and tries to come at him again. Pantoja lands a couple of punches, but Royval also lands several kicks. Pantoja attempts to get into half guard again. Royval gets his leg but the champion readjusts and is in half guard now. They get up with 30 second left in the round. Pantoja ends the round with a right punch and a left calf kick.
Round 2
Pantoja lands a big right to counter a knee to the body. Royval lands a knee to the body but Pantoja also hits a kick. Royval blocks a takedown. Some back and forth before Pantoja gets a takedown. Pantoja keeps Royval pinned to the mat and takes a dominating position. Royval keeps attempting to hit him with punches. Pantoja has one leg pressed under. He gets in a side press with one arm trapped, attempting a crucifix. Pantoja gets back to half guard. He hits big fists on Royval before they get up. A big right stuns Royval and he almost tumbles. Pantoja blocks a high kick and gets a takedown. Pantoja gets in half guard once again and ends the round in a dominant position.
Round 3
Royval catches Pantoja’s leg but fails to get a takedown. Royval stumbles once again but then goes for a kick. Pantoja catches his leg to block that kick and gets a takedown. Royval rolls him over as he goes for a choke. Pantoja has to get back up to avoid getting locked himself. Pantoja looks labored now. Royval defends a takedown after one minute goes by without much action. Royval gets some strikes going. Pantoja hits a couple of punches. Royval counters with one himself. Royval lands several jabs in succession. He hits a knee to the face. Pantoja goes for a takedown and gets it. Royval makes it difficult for him to take control. The round comes to an end with Pantoja attempting an arm triangle.
Round 4
Pantoja attempts a takedown right as the round starts. He gets it successfully after a bit of a struggle. Royval tries to use the cage to get up but Pantoja keeps him under control. Pantoja gets on his back now. He gets a body triangle now. Royval is working hard to block a rear choke. He rolls over a few times but Pantoja is keeping the body triangle despite all the attempts. Pantoja gets his arms under the chin as the fourth-minute starts. Royval keeps working to avoid the choke. Royval’s work leads to him getting out of the choke in the final 30 seconds. He batters Pantoja with several strikes on the mat for the rest of the round.
Round 5
Royval comes out attempting jabs but Pantoja counters with punches. Royval keeps up with his punches. Pantoja is tired. He tries to counter with leg kicks. They keep hitting each other. Commentary suggests that Pantoja has an injured left hand. Pantoja goes for a takedown. Royval tries to block it for a while but Pantoja jumps on his mistake and grounds him. They continue to scramble on the mat for the rest of the round, and it is only in the last 15 seconds that Pantoja gets in a comfortable position to unload with punches.
Official Decision
Alexandre Pantoja won via unanimous decision(50-45, 50-45, 49-46).
