LAS VEGAS – Brandon Royval thinks he should have been awarded a submission win against Rogerio Bontorin.
Instead, Royval (13-6 MMA, 3-2 UFC) walked a way with a split decision at UFC on ESPN 32 on Saturday after a back-and-forth battle with Bontorin. In Round 3, Royval caught Bontorin with a tight armbar from his back, and it appeared the Brazilian tapped once.
The referee never stopped the fight, and Bontorin eventually broke out of the tough position and regained top control on the ground. Royval admits he was surprised that the referee missed the tap.
“Kind of tired, a little upset, but I’m so happy to be back in the win column,” Royval told reporters at the UFC on ESPN 32 post-fight news conference. “I’m so happy to be talking to you guys, and we pulled it off, so whatever – and he tapped. What the f*ck was that about? Did you see that? Did you think he tapped?”
He continued, “I thought he tapped. I was cranking the f*ck out of his arm. I was like, ‘Get me out of here. I want to go home.’ I threw everything in that armbar, and I thought he tapped, but it doesn’t matter.”
Royval wasn’t pleased with his performance overall. Having only gone the distance once in his 12 pro wins prior to UFC on ESPN 32, Royval was disappointed to have not gotten the finish.
“I don’t ever want to go to a decision,” Royval said. “I don’t like dropping rounds. I felt like I fought a little sloppy, but man, I feel like since I’ve been in the UFC, I’ve been taking myself so seriously. I’ve been winning against top-10 opponents, and as soon as you win against a top-10 opponent, you’ve got another top-10 opponent, and then it’s like I’ve got to get serious, and then I lost two fights, and then it’s like man, I haven’t had fun in two-and-a-half years since I’ve been in the UFC. So it’s just like, enjoy it man. Winning is hard. Winning against top-10 opponents is hard.”
