Charles Johnson wants to avenge Brandon Royval loss in UFC rematch

Charles Johnson is gunning for a rematch with Brandon Royval to settle an eight-year-old score from their 2018 Legacy Fighting Alliance bout, where Royval emerged victorious. The UFC flyweight's call comes fresh off an impressive victory over Eduardo Henrique at UFC 330, where Johnson secured a rare Scottish twister submission—only the second in UFC history—after Henrique stepped in on short notice when Johnson's original opponent, Jose Ochoa, withdrew.

The 35-year-old Johnson (20–9) is eager for a quick turnaround and told Ariel Helwani he would like to compete within 90 days, ideally in a main event slot. While he named Kyoji Horiguchi and Tatsuro Taira as alternative opponents, Johnson made clear that Royval is his top choice. "We had an amazing fight in LFA, and I think he's the most proven out of those three guys," Johnson said, confident the rematch would deliver fireworks. "We're both dogs. It's going to be a fight of the year."

Johnson has already fought four times this year and carries recent momentum. His resume includes notable wins over current flyweight champion Joshua Van and top contender Lone'er Kavanagh, though he recently lost to Asu Almabayev before the Henrique redemption. Royval (18–9) is also moving in a positive direction after defeating Kavanagh, though he has suffered recent setbacks against Van and Manel Kape. A rematch between the two would pit proven, aggressive competitors against each other in what both fighters clearly believe has potential to be a memorable encounter.