Brandon Royval had no issue admitting that he drastically underrated Tatsuro Taira before their main event clash this past weekend.
At UFC Vegas 98, the former title challenger earned his second consecutive win by becoming the first man to defeat the rising Japanese star.
Royval had trained with Taira in the past and felt that the fight had come too soon for the exciting 24-year old flyweight contender.
The experience of "Raw Dawg" definitely played a part in the fight but it was still a closely contested, back-and-forth battle that Royval came out on top in by winning the fifth round to edge the split decision result in his favor.
In his post-fight interview with Michael Bisping, he spoke about how he is full of gratitude towards his opponent after he totally exceeded his expectations.
"Na, I thought I was going to take him to school, I'm gonna be honest. I thought that wasn't even going to be a close fight, I thought I was going to be out of here in the first round. Taira, you're the f****** man. Taira, you ever need a place to train anytime you're in Colorado, you need anything, a ride, anything, I'm there for you. You're going to become a champion and I hope I can help you one day bro."
The grappling of Taira was his biggest weapon in the fight whereas Royval clearly had the advantage in the striking exchanges between them.
He doubled down on both underestimating Taira and wanting to help him in the future.
"Yeah man, I didn't expect it. I 100% thought that I was going to be out of there in the first two minutes, I ain't even gonna f****** lie. That being said, it's humble lessons learned, humble lessons learned. That kid will be a f****** champion and I swear to God I'll do anything to help him become that one day."
The outcome leaves Royval in a difficult position because he's beaten many of the top flyweights but has fallen short against the champion, Alexandre Pantoja.
With Pantoja already set to defend his belt against the division's new arrival in Kai Asakura at UFC 310 in December, his former foe is ready and waiting to step in if any of the big fights at 125-pounds need someone to pick up the phone.
"Hey, if you need a back-up for the Edmonton fight, I'll fight either one of those m************. I beat everybody in the f****** top five, I have a win over everybody in the top five. I get that f****** title shot next. I get that title shot next. I'll be the back-up. Kai Asakura, I'm going to Japan, I'm taking that s***. Pantoja wins it, I'm going to Brazil and I'm taking that s***. Title shot next, that's the only f****** discussion."
Watch the full interview below:
