Alexandre Pantoja got the better of Brandon Royval again tonight at UFC 296 to successfully defend his flyweight title, but this time he had to go to the scorecards to earn his victory.
Round One:
Pantoja immediately charges forward with punches and a body kick. Reset and then he’s back in again with another flurry.
Now things start to settle a little in the center of the Octagon as they exchange low kicks.
Pantoja closes the distance quickly against the cage, but they don’t remain there for long before getting back to the center of the Octagon.
Pantoja lands a couple of solid body kicks. Royval with a head kick that just whistles past the champ’s head.
Pantoja with a body kick and punch. Now a knee as he clinches up and then gets Royval to the mat. Pantoja in half-guard here. Royval getting some space to bring his legs into play and starts throwing upkicks as Pantoja opts to stand over him.
Pantoja trying to get back into guard, but Royval is still threatening with the upkicks to keep him at bay. Finally Pantoja gets back down and is into half-guard again.
Pantoja looking to trap an arm, but Royval seeks to counter and there’s a scramble, with Pantoja doing well to end in side control. However Royval gets him back to his guard and then stands back up.
Nice punch from Royval but then Pantoja fires back. Right hand and a leg kick from Pantoja as a high-paced first round comes to a close.
Round Two:
Nice straight right from Pantoja as Royval was coming forward. Now the champ lands a kick to the body. Nice knee to the body for Royval. Pantoja looks to clinch up and brings him over to the cage, but Royval gets back to the center of the Octagon.
calf kick for Pantoja. Royval looks to strike, but Pantoja counters with a takedown in the middle of the Octagon.
Pantoja in half-guard here and stays tight to his opponent to control the action. Royval trying to land light punches from his back.
Patient work from Pantoja here for a change. Smooth transition to side control now. Two minutes of the round to go. Royval works back to half-guard. He’s still punching from his back as Pantoja goes back to focusing on control.
Pantoja looks to get off some ground-and-pound, but finds himself back in his full guard and then they go upright.
Unusual angle on a right hand from Pantoja wobbles Royval for a moment. Royval tries for a head kick, but Pantoja brings him down off that attempt and ends the round on top.
Round Three:
Pantoja with a couple of right hands and then looks to clinch, but Royval reverses the position for a moment then goes back to striking range.
Pantoja in nicely on a takedown and lands it in the center of the Octagon. Right back into half-guard again and then moves his way up to mount. There’s a scramble and Pantoja fails to take the back and slips off. He does well to get quickly back to his feet though before Royval can settle on top.
Back to striking range. Royval looking a little fresher. Pantoja with a body kick. Royval gets into range and Pantoja tries for a takedown. This time he doesn’t get it though and they return to striking range.
Royval with straight punches but coming up short. Pantoja with a body kick. Punch for Royval. Another lands, but Pantoja lands a couple in return.
Body kick for Royval and Pantoja tries for a takedown without success. Solid double-jab for Royval. Now a knee upstairs for him, but Pantoja rushes in afterwards and brings the fight back to the mat and is back into half-guard.
Body-head combos for Pantoja without landing anything too heavy. Final seconds of the round and he lands a few hooks.
Round Four:
Pantoja with a couple of right hands and then into a takedown against the cage. Royval fighting against it, but then does go down.
Pantoja in half-guard. Royval tries to wall walk, but gives up on that idea. Pantoja trying to pass into mount here and almost has it. He gets it now but Royval is tricky and manages to scramble out. Pantoja spins with him though and takes his back.
Pantoja works in the body triangle. Royval trying to cage walk again without success. Half the round remaining. Again he looks to wall walk but it doesn’t shake off the champ.
Pantoja trying for a rear-naked choke, but it’s more of a crank for now. Royval survives that uncomfortable spot. Royval trying to turn into his opponent and almost does so, but Pantoja’s body lock is in too tight and prevents it.
Final minute of the round. Royval constantly trying to escape. There’s another scramble and he rolls to his knees and then manages to get on top. Royval immediately going to work with big elbow strikes. He’s going all in on this, but Pantoja counters with a leg lock attempt. Royval stops to defend that, then starts with the ground-and-pound again for a few seconds as the round comes to an end.
Round Five:
Jab for Royval. left hand for Pantoja. Right hand for Royval. They are trading punches one at a time. left hook for Royval. straight punch from Royval as he gets the upper-hand a bit here. Leg kick for Royval. Now a leg kick. Jabs for Royval. Another lands and Pantoja misses on a tired leg kick.
Royval opts to clinch up against the cage. Good elbow for him and then they separate. Leg kick for Pantoja. he lands it again. And again to the calf for the third time. Royval back to landing punches. Good work from him late in the fight.
Pantoja swinging back at him now, but he does look the more tired of the two. Royval catches him again and Pantoja drives in for a takedown. He almost gets it but Royval is defending it. Pantoja adjusts his position though and lands it.
Two minutes to go as Pantoja is in half-guard. Royval doing his best to try to escape, but nothing doing for now and time is his enemy.
Pantoja almost in side control then back to half-guard. Royval contorting his body trying to escape. Pantoja almost takes his back, but then goes into full mount. Half-guard again now in the final 10 seconds and Pantoja drops down some hammerfists. We’re headed to the scorecards.
Decision:
A fun fight here then, but Pantoja was winning the early striking battle and then gained control on the mat for extended periods for several rounds. Royval turned up the heat in the final round as Pantoja showed signs of tiring, but the champ ended up on top again before the fight is over to ensure a convincing unanimous decision victory (50-45 x2, 49-46).
