Brandon Royval reveals he likely tore his MCL in first minute of UFC Mexico City main event against Brandon Moreno

Brandon Royval had to fight through a serious injury during his UFC Mexico City main event fight against Brandon Moreno.

Royval stepped up on short notice to rematch Moreno, in a fight he was a sizeable underdog in. In the first minute of the fight, ‘Raw Dawg’ appeared to injure his knee, as he even mentioned it after the first round to his corner.

Yet, Brandon Royval was able to fight through it and he edged out a split decision win. But, taking to his FaceBook on Monday, he revealed he tore his MCL.

Per Brandon Royval on his Facebook he says that he tore his MCL in the first minute of his #UFCMexico Main Event against Brandon Moreno pic.twitter.com/Hjdw4FYEPr

— Jason Hagholm (@JHagholm1) February 26, 2024

“From public enemy number 1 to number 1 contender. Came off the couch for a short notice fight against a former champion in his hometown. Most likely tore my MCL in the first minute of the fight. Hate it or love it though the underdogs on top,” Royval wrote on his FaceBook.

Brandon Royval admitted after the fight that his knee popped early in the fight which forced him to change his entire game plan.

“I don’t know what happened. I missed the kick right away and my knee like, it like popped. It did something weird and I couldn’t put weight on it. Right off the bat, I’m like I don’t know what it is about this kid, ‘I don’t know what it is about this kid, but like, I break.’ I’m happy I could push through,” Brando Royval said on the UFC post-fight show. “I’m happy I could fight another 25 minutes, another 24 minutes after that. I’m lucky, I’m blessed, when an adventure, what a life.”

Despite dealing with the injury, Brandon Royval scored a split decision win over Brandon Moreno to become the No. 1 contender at flyweight. But, it is disappointing news for Royval as it’s uncertain how long he will be on the sidelines with his injury if he did tear his MCL. The hope was for Royval to turn around to face Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight belt at UFC 301 in Brazil in May.

But, with the win, Royval improved to 16-7 as a pro and is 6-3 in the UFC. Before the win over Moreno, he suffered a lopsided decision loss to Pantoja. To earn the title shot, Royval had wins over Matheus Nicolau by KO, Matt Schnell by submission, and a split decision win over Rogerio Bontorin.