Top contenders Brandon Royval and Tatsuro Taira will stake their claim for a flyweight title shot when they face off in the main event of UFC Vegas 98 on Saturday night (Sunday morning SA time), writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The co-headliner at the UFC<\/a><\/strong> APEX in Las Vegas is a middleweight matchup between Brad Tavares, who went the distance with South Africa\u2019s fighting pride Dricus du Plessis two years ago, and Jun Yong Park. A second scrap at 185 pounds pits Abdul Razak Alhassan against Josh Fremd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There are two fights at welterweight, with Chidi Njokuani colliding with Jared Gooden, and Daniel Rodriguez meeting Alex Morono. Plus, Grant Dawson and Rafa Garcia go toe-to-toe at lightweight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a high-stakes headliner set to deliver fast and furious action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In one corner, you have the No. 1-ranked flyweight contender in Royval (16-7), a veteran who\u2019s established himself as one of the very best at 125 pounds since bursting onto the UFC scene in 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRaw Dawg\u201d challenged Alexandre Pantoja for the title last December, losing a unanimous decision, and bounced back with a split decision win over former two-time champion Brandon Moreno in their UFC Mexico City main event clash in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In the other corner, you have an undefeated prodigy in Taira. One of the hottest prospects in all of mixed martial artists, the 24-year-old is a perfect 16-0 with six wins in the UFC, including four finishes. The Japanese fighter most recently defeated former title challenger Alex Perez when Perez suffered a knee injury during a takedown in their main event meeting in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Royval is a brawler who fights at a breakneck pace. Always moving and constantly feinting, the southpaw bases his striking behind a solid jab and has four knockouts to his name. Grappling is where the 31-year-old really shines, though, as he creates explosive entries and boasts nine submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Taira is a next-generation mixed martial artist. While he\u2019s mainly known as a grappler, he\u2019s showcased a well-rounded skillset since joining the UFC two years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taira, who has five knockouts and seven submissions to his name, is not just impressive inside the Octagon, where he has speed and skill in equal measure, but outside of it as well. He\u2019s as humble, hard-working and calm as can be with composure well beyond his years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Royval throws a bit more volume on the feet than Taira, however, Taira is the more accurate striker and more elusive target with a two-inch reach advantage. He\u2019s also the busier grappler, both in terms of takedown attempts and on the ground, where he\u2019s constantly setting up submissions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s here where he should have a decisive edge and win a fun fight to cement himself as the next flyweight title challenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prediction:<\/strong> Taira by submission.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Bet: <\/strong>Taira by submission at 2.30.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternative Bet:<\/strong> Taira by submission or decision at 1.50.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The co-main event is set to be a tactical battle between seasoned veterans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Known for his toughness, Tavares (20-9) is one of just two men who\u2019ve gone the distance with middleweight ruler Du Plessis, dropping a decision to the baddest man in Mzansi in 2022.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since then, however, he\u2019s been stopped either side of a decision win over former champion Chris Weidman and is looking to rebound from a TKO loss to Gregory Rodrigues in February. He\u2019s far from washed, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The 36-year-old is a technical striker with solid takedown defence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n A high-level grappler with power in his hands, Park (17-6) was on a four-fight win streak before suffering a frustrating split-decision loss to Andre Muniz last December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Iron Turtle\u2019s last three wins are by submission, however, Tavares has never tapped out. Therefore, this fight will likely go the distance. Park, the younger man by three years, has the wider skillset and the power advantage, so he\u2019s the pick.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prediction:<\/strong> Park by decision.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Bet:<\/strong> Park by decision at 2.40.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternative Bet:<\/strong> Park at 1.54.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Welterweights looking to build momentum battle it out in the featured bout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After a 3-3 UFC run at middleweight, Njokuani (23-10) made a successful move down to the 170-pound division in March, halting a three-fight skid with a split decision win over Rhys McKee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBang Bang\u201d is a striking specialist with 14 wins by knockout and a big toolbox that enables him to pick many a man apart if they don\u2019t stay down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gooden (23-9) hopes to make the most of his second stint in the UFC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After winning just one of his four fights in his first go-around in the promotion, he was axed and split his two fights at regional level before answering an SOS on short notice to make his UFC return last March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It didn\u2019t go his way as he lost a decision to Carlston Harris, but it gave him a foot in the door, and he came good in December when he submitted Wellington Turman.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aggressive on the feet, \u201cNiteTrain\u201d throws at a very high volume but also gets hit a ton. Now that he\u2019s at welterweight, Njokuani\u2019s one of the taller and rangier strikers in the division and he should use those strengths to make it two from two in his new home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prediction:<\/strong> Njokuani by decision.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Bet:<\/strong> Njokuani at 1.57.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternative Bet:<\/strong> Njokuani by decision at 3.40.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dawson (21-2-1) is determined to work his way back into the top 15 of the talent-rich lightweight division and is happy to walk over Garcia (16-3) to get closer to achieving that goal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He was on a nine-fight unbeaten streak a year ago heading into his first main event only to be knocked out by Bobby Green in just 33 seconds. \u201cKGD\u201d put that disappointment behind him with a decision win over Joe Solecki in June and plans to start another streak this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A powerful wrestler with excellent jiu-jitsu, Dawson has no less than 13 submission wins to his name and it\u2019s no secret he\u2019ll look to take the fight to the ground.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Garcia, conversely, will want to keep it on the feet in his comeback fight. He hasn\u2019t been inside the Octagon since outstriking all-action veteran Clay Guida last April due to a knee injury and that knee will be tested by Dawson\u2019s takedown attempts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With a size and strength advantage, Dawson is a heavy favourite and will most likely work his way through Gifted\u2019s guard and force him to submit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prediction:<\/strong> Dawson by submission.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Bet:<\/strong> Dawson by submission at 4.50.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternative Bet:<\/strong> Dawson by decision at 1.64.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n A former member of the welterweight top 15, Rodriguez (17-5) \u201cgoes fishing\u201d in hopes of getting back on track after three straight losses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Those defeats, it must be said, came against top trio Neil Magny, Ian Machado Garry and former title challenger Kelvin Gastelum, all of whom are levels above Morono (24-10).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cD-Rod\u201d is a crafty southpaw who does most of his work on the feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Morono has been dogged by inconsistency. He\u2019s alternated wins and losses in his last six fights and is coming off a decision loss to Niko Price in June.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a tough brawler, his cardio has been a big issue as of late. Given that Rodriguez pushes a steady pace for three rounds, he should reel in \u201cThe Great White\u201d to snap his losing streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prediction:<\/strong> Rodriguez by decision.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Bet:<\/strong> Rodriguez by decision at 2.50.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternative Bet:<\/strong> Rodriguez at 1.48.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Middleweights in need of a win will get the main card underway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ghana\u2019s Alhassan (12-6) was left fuming after his only fight of 2024 ended in a no-contest because of shots he landed to the back of Cody Brundage\u2019s head. Before that, he was submitted by Joe Pyfer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cJudo Thunder\u201d is a knockout artist with a 100% finish rate and with a bee in his bonnet, he\u2019ll be extra dangerous this weekend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fremd (11-6) was knocked out by Roman Kopylov and then controlled by wrestler Andre Petroski in July. He\u2019s more well-rounded than Alhassan and will look to mix things up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If he can weather the early storm, things will likely turn in Fremd\u2019s favour. However, my money\u2019s on Alhassan to put his lights out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prediction:<\/strong> Alhassan by knockout.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Best Bet: <\/strong>Alhassan by KO\/TKO\/DQ at 1.90.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nMAIN CARD (from 1 AM Sunday SA time):<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Brandon Royval (3.10) v Tatsuro Taira (1.38) (Flyweight)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Brad Tavares (2.54) v Jun Yong Park (1.54) (Middleweight)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Chidi Njokuani (1.57) v Jared Gooden (2.45) (Welterweight)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Grant Dawson (1.23) v Rafa Garcia (4.30) (Lightweight)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Daniel Rodriguez (1.48) v Alex Morono (2.70) (Welterweight)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Abdul Razak Alhassan (1.61) v Josh Fremd (2.36) (Middleweight)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n