At UFC 317 in Las Vegas, Brandon Royval is preparing to face Joshua Van, who stepped in on late notice. Despite being officially ranked by the UFC as the number one contender in his division, Royval frequently finds himself listed as an underdog by betting oddsmakers. According to Royval, this is a familiar situation throughout his career, leading him to feel persistently overlooked by fighters, fans, and the wider MMA community.
Speaking during the UFC 317 media day, Royval voiced his frustration, stating, “I think I`m the most disrespected fighter in the UFC.” He supported this claim by reflecting on his betting history, noting, “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.” He added that this trend isn`t confined to the UFC, as he was consistently the underdog even during his time in the LFA organization. Royval concluded by reiterating his feeling of being continuously disrespected by both the fans and those who set the betting lines.
