Anything but Fighting: Brandon Royval loves Metallica, Gangster Rap, Kung Fu Movies, more

Brandon Royval, the UFC flyweight contender riding high after a Fight of the Night submission victory over Lone'er Kavanagh at UFC 329, sat down with MMA Fighting's José Youngs for the latest episode of Anything But Fighting to discuss his passions away from the octagon.

The 18-9 fighter opened up about his eclectic taste in entertainment and culture, revealing his love for heavy metal legends Metallica, gangster rap, kung fu cinema, and more. Royval's interests paint a picture of a fighter with diverse creative influences that extend well beyond mixed martial arts.

The submission win over Kavanagh marked a return to the win column for "Raw Dawg" after back-to-back losses to Manel Kape and current flyweight champion Joshua Van—a pair of bouts that earned 2025 Fight of the Year honors and tested Royval's resilience at the elite level of the division. Despite those setbacks, Royval's resume speaks to his caliber as a threat in one of the UFC's deepest weight classes. His notable victims include Tatsuro Taira, Brandon Moreno, Kai Kara-France, Tim Elliott, and Matheus Nicolau—a collection of wins that underscores his status as a serious contender and one of flyweight's most well-rounded strikers and submission artists.