LAS VEGAS – Ranked as the number one contender in his division, Brandon Royval is set to compete against Joshua Van, a fighter stepping in on short notice, at UFC 317. Despite his high standing, Royval once again finds himself regarded as the underdog by some betting experts. This situation is not new to him; Royval feels perpetually overlooked by the UFC community, including fellow fighters, fans, and oddsmakers, despite his position in the rankings.
During the UFC 317 media day, Royval candidly stated, “I think I’m the most disrespected fighter in the UFC.” He added, “I think it’s been shown over and over again. Anytime a money line comes out, I think I’ve been favorite against Matt Schnell and never again in the UFC, my whole entire career it’s been that way. LFA, I was always the underdog. Really nothing’s different but I feel like I get continuously disrespected by the fans and whoever the odds maker is.”
