Royval Says Followers Cost Him Main Event

Brandon Royval says social-media numbers became a defining issue in his push for a UFC main event opportunity. The former flyweight title challenger explained that he has committed to posting more because he now understands how much content and audience building can matter for a fighter. Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show after his recent victory over Lone’er Kavanagh, Royval recalled being told that another fighter had more followers when he was not selected to headline an event in 2022.

Royval said the explanation stayed with him because he had put together consecutive wins and believed he was in position for the assignment. “Having followers is such a big deal,” Royval said. He remembered being told that the fighter placed ahead of him had “way more followers than you.” Royval identified Alexa Grasso while discussing the situation. The event he referenced was held at the Apex and was headlined by Grasso against Viviane Araujo. Royval had been scheduled to face Askar Askarov on that card, but Askarov withdrew the day before the event because of issues with his weight cut. Royval said he was angry about being passed over, although the cancelled matchup ultimately meant he did not compete on that card.

Royval connects posting to opportunity

The comments offer a direct explanation for Royval’s increased activity on social media. He said creating content and building a fan base are important parts of being a fighter, even though he did not always give those areas much attention. His recollection was not framed as a complaint about one isolated booking decision alone. Instead, it showed why he has adjusted his approach as his UFC career has continued. Royval’s recent result also gave him a timely sporting reason to discuss visibility. He defeated Lone’er Kavanagh to return to the win column, and the hard-fought victory brought him his sixth Fight of the Night bonus. Bloody Elbow reported that the total is more than any other fighter in Royval’s weight class. The result added to a reputation built on entertaining bouts, including his wars with Joshua Van.

Royval has since received main-event opportunities, having headlined three Fight Night events. That fact provides important context to his account of the earlier disappointment: the 2022 decision did not prevent him from eventually reaching those spots, but it did shape how he views the business side of competition. Bloody Elbow listed Royval at 149,000 Instagram followers at the time of its report. For Royval, those numbers are not separate from his work inside the cage. He described followers as a significant factor in how a fighter can be positioned, while his recent win and bonus total underline the competitive and entertainment value he has continued to provide. The issue he raised is therefore about the connection he sees between attention, promotion and access to high-profile UFC assignments.

A record of action and visibility

Royval’s story centers on a contrast between being known for difficult, action-heavy fights and feeling that he still had to demonstrate his ability to generate broader attention. The source described him as a fan favorite because of his battles with fighters such as Joshua Van, and noted that he earned double pay in defeat last year as another example of his consistently entertaining performances. Yet Royval’s own account makes clear that he did not believe fight quality alone answered every promotional question. His decision to post more is a practical response to that reality. It is also a response grounded in a specific moment: consecutive wins, a missed main-event chance and an explanation tied to follower totals. Since then, three Fight Night headliners and a current Instagram total of 149,000 show measurable changes in the public-facing part of his career, while the Kavanagh win returned his focus to results in the flyweight division.

• Royval said he began taking social-media posting more seriously because building a fan base is an important part of being a fighter.
• He recalled being passed over for a 2022 main event after the UFC cited another fighter’s larger follower count, before his own scheduled bout was cancelled.

Royval did not present social media as a replacement for winning or delivering exciting fights. His comments instead describe it as another requirement he has learned to address. After defeating Kavanagh and collecting a sixth Fight of the Night bonus, Royval has fresh evidence of what he brings in competition. His recollection of the 2022 booking decision explains why he is also investing more effort in the audience-building work outside the cage.