In Las Vegas, Brandon Royval is scheduled to compete against a late-notice opponent, Joshua Van, at UFC 317. Despite his position as the UFC`s number one ranked contender in the flyweight division, Royval finds himself pegged as an underdog by some oddsmakers. This isn`t a new situation for him, as Royval believes he is frequently overlooked by fighters, fans, and the broader MMA community.
During the UFC 317 media day, Royval stated, “I think I’m the most disrespected fighter in the UFC.” He elaborated on this point, saying it`s consistently evident, especially when betting lines are released. Royval mentioned that he has only been the betting favorite once in his entire UFC career (against Matt Schnell), a pattern that held true during his time in LFA as well, where he was always the underdog. He feels this disrespect continues to come from fans and those who set the odds.
