Brandon Royval held on to his top contender spot. And now he wants what’s his.

“Raw Dawg” made it two straight wins on Saturday with a thrilling split decision victory over Tatsuro Taira in the main event of UFC Vegas 98. The top-10 flyweights went back and forth for 25 minutes, with the more experienced Royval gutting out the victory.

Since losing to UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja in February, Royval has scored wins over the previously unbeaten Taira and two-time titleholder Brandon Moreno, so another championship opportunity is within reach. Should Royval grasp it, he vows to put on a more spirited effort this time around.

“I’m going balls to the wall,” Royval said at the evening’s post-fight press conference. “I trust my pace, I trust my cardio. A fifth-round Raw Dawg is a dangerous Raw Dawg. I trust myself. I think if I ever fought Pantoja again—maybe I shouldn’t be telling my secrets—but I’m going straight after him. I think I played it too safe, I was a little too worried. That being said, I’m going forward, I’m going guns a blazing and that’s what I’m going to do.”

When Royval fought Pantoja eight months ago, he came out on the wrong end of a unanimous decision following a fight in which he was uncharacteristically timid. Prior to that fight, Royval was known for his intensity and aggression, scoring 12 of his first 16 wins by knockout or submission and earning three Fight of the Night bonuses (he collected another Saturday for his fight with Taira).

Royval is also known for fighting only the best competition, having shared the octagon with ranked opposition since making his UFC debut in 2020. Add it all up and he doesn’t see how the matchmakers can deny him another shot at gold.

“I see a title shot next, there’s no way about it,” Royval said. “I have a win over the whole top 5 of the division. I’m all about rematches, but that being said, I earned my way to a title shot. I took a short-notice against the No. 1, I just took out the hottest prospect in the division, I think a title shot is what’s next for me and I’ll be the backup for the title fight Dec. 7.”

That Dec. 7 title fight features Pantoja defending his flyweight championship against UFC newcomer Kai Asakura in the co-main event of UFC 310. The Japanese star made a name for himself in his native country’s RIZIN promotion and holds notable wins over Kyoji Horiguchi, Manel Kape (who avenged his loss to Asakura in 2019) and, most recently, Bellator standout Juan Archuleta.

Royval is a fan and thinks Asakura has a chance of dethroning Pantoja, but he won’t be surprised if Pantoja retains and ends up fighting Royval a third time.

“I’ve been watching Kai Asakura for a while,” Royval said. “I think he’s sick. I think there’s a lot of cool things. He’s yet to make flyweight, so I’ll be there and I’ll be ready just in case he doesn’t. That being said, I’ll give that man his roses. I think that he brings a lot of excitement to the division, I think he could take out Pantoja. I think if Pantoja grapples him at all, it’s going to be over. That being said, the fight starts on the feet.”

Eilidh Adams scored a hat-trick as Hibernian beat Spartans 4-0 to move within three points of second place in the SWPL.

Penalties bookended Adams’ treble, with her second coming from open play and Michaela McAlonie scoring Hibs’ third of the day.

At Links Park, Montrose led Partick Thistle through Neve Guthrie’s goal before Carla Boyce brought the visitors level to secure a 1-1 draw.

There are three more fixtures on Sunday – Queen’s Park v Aberdeen (15:00), Motherwell v Dundee United (16:00) and Hearts v Celtic (16:10). Hearts’ meeting with Celtic is live on BBC Alba and iPlayer.

On Saturday, leaders Rangers recovered from a goal down to draw 1-1 at home to Glasgow City to stay top of the division. Rio Hardy netted for Rangers after Emily Whelan’s opener for second-placed City.

LAS VEGAS – Brandon Royval made sure to let his intentions known.

The former UFC title challenger wants his next career move to involve UFC gold, and he feels he’s done enough to demand that from the promotion. Royval (17-7 MMA, 7-3 UFC) defeated previously unbeaten prospect Tatsuro Taira (16-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) in a hard-fought split decision in the main event of Saturday’s UFC Fight Night 244 at the UFC Apex.

This was his second straight win after losing to champion Alexandre Pantoja last December, and he feels he’s deserving of his next fight being for the title as well as the chance to be the official backup role for the next 125-pound championship fight.

“I see a title shot next. There’s no other way about it,” Royval told reporters following his win. “I have a win over the whole top five of the division. I’m all about rematches, but with that being said, I earned my way to a title shot. I took a short notice against the No. 1, I just took out the hottest prospect in the division. I think a title shot is what’s next for me, and I’ll be the backup for the title fight in December.”

Pantoja defends his flyweight belt against Japanese star Kai Asakura in the co-main event of UFC 310 on Dec. 7 in Las Vegas. Asakura, a former Rizin FF champion, is getting a title shot in his promotional debut.

Royval has no problem with Asakura getting the shot and, in fact, likes his addition to the UFC flyweight roster.

“I’ve been watching Kai Asakura for a while, I think he’s sick.” Royval said. “I think there’s a clot of cool things. He’s yet to make flyweight, so I’ll be there, and I’ll be ready just in case he doesn’t. That being said, I’ll give that man his roses. I think he brings a lot of excitement to the division, and I think he could take out Pantoja. If Pantoja grapples him, it’s going to be over. That being said, the fight starts on the feet.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for UFC Fight Night 244.

Max Holloway sent a message to Ilia Topuria ahead of their blockbuster fight later this month.

Holloway challenges Topuria for the UFC featherweight title in the main event of UFC 308 Oct. 26 in Abu Dhabi. Holloway, the current BMF champ after his incredible knockout of Justin Gaethje at UFC 300, let Topuria know who the real “BMF” titleholder is in a recent Instagram post.

Holloway and Topuria recently had a heated combo interview with Brendan Fitzgerald, where Topuria put a BMF title on his shoulder. In the post, Holloway says his belt was “earned not bought.”

Topuria captured the UFC featherweight title with a brutal knockout of Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298 in February. “El Matador” improved his overall record to 15-0, including a 7-0 start to his surging UFC career.

Holloway lost the featherweight title to Volkanovski, and came up short in two other rematches. Since a lopsided decision loss to Volkanovski in their third meeting at UFC 276 in July 2022, “Blessed” is 3-0 with wins over Gaethje, Arnold Allen, and Chan Sung Jung.

Pete Murray is excited to kick off a new format for PFL’s championships.

Two new superfight belts will be introduced at PFL: Battle of the Giants Oct. 19 at The Mayadeen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (ESPN+ pay-per-view, DAZN).

In the main event, former UFC champion Francis Ngannou (17-3) takes on 2023 PFL champion Renan Ferreira (13-3). In the co-main event, Cris Cyborg (27-2-1) will look to collect her fifth belt in a major organization when she faces two-time PFL champion Larissa Pacheco (23-4).

“The PFL superfights belt, first time we as a company and organization have a belt where it must be won, but it also must be defended on an ongoing basis,” Murray told MMA Junkie Radio. “Typically, our global season belts, they recognize those champions for the year, and they’re forever that year’s champion. But this is a different belt, a different format for us. So both Francis and Cris want to be the first ones to raise those belts, but Renan and Larissa, two Brazilians, they’re going to bring it.”

The PFL CEO sees Ferreira and Pacheco as the future of MMA.

“Larissa, two-time PFL champion, women’s 155 then she took on 145,” Murray said. “She’s women’s 145 champion, two belts. She’s fierce, she’s really grown into being a bonafide world champion. She’s wanted this fight for a really long time. So when you think about the GOATs in Francis and in Cris, up against Renan and Larissa, that’s really the future.

“These younger fighters in their prime – again, Francis still in his prime, Cris in her prime, not many can dance with either of them, but they’ve had a storied career, both of them. Renan and Larissa, they’re the future. They’re looking to make their mark now, and they deserve this fight. These are both legitimate opponents for both Francis and Cris.”

For more on the card, visit MMA Junkie’s event hub for PFL: Battle of the Giants.