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UFC 329 live blog: Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh

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1 month ago

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UFC 329 live blog: Brandon Royval vs. Lone’er Kavanagh

This is the UFC 329 live blog for Brandon Royval vs. Lone'er Kavanagh, the main card flyweight bout Saturday at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

A one-time title challenger, Royval (17-9) once again finds himself having to defend his spot in the contender line against a hungry contender. Royval's past two fights haven't gone his way as he was knocked out by Manel Kape and dropped a decision in a thriller against now-champion Joshua Van, so the time is now for the veteran to right the ship.

Kavanagh (10-1) is coming off of an eye-opening win over two-time flyweight champion Brandon Moreno. Called upon on short notice to face Moreno in the main event of UFC Mexico City this past February, Kavanagh spoiled Moreno's homecoming with a virtuoso five-round performance. Just 27, Kavanagh could find himself on the cusp of a title opportunity if he can get past Royval.

Check out the UFC 329 live blog for Brandon Royval vs. Lone'er Kavanagh below.

Round 1: Jason Herzog is the third man in the cage for this one, and here we go! Royval connects a fast jab, and they begin to trade punches so fast already. Royval with a solid right kick to the leg of Kavanagh. Kavanagh aims for a kick to the body but misses. Another good leg kick for Royval. Kavanagh switches stances and lands a leg kick as well. Kavanagh goes for a high kick but Royval catches his leg and connects a couple of punches. Again, catches the kick and punishes him with a couple of punches. Kavanagh lands a good left punch to the body now. Royval's jab continues to land and keep Kavanagh away from him. Royval shoots for a takedown and Kavanagh threatens with a guillotine, but Royval is already on side control. Back to half guard, and full guard, and Royval ground and pounds Kavanagh. Royval with elbows to the face, but that opens space for Kavanagh to get back up and hold him against the fence. Kavanagh trips Royval down and round comes to an end. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Royval.

Round 2: Round stars and Royval is already busy with the jabs, over and over again. Kavanagh fires a kick to the body that barely misses. Kavanagh with a 1-2 combo, followed by a kick to the body. And another right hand to the face of Royval. And again! Royval is hurt and down! Kavanagh follows him with a barrage of punches and has him in deep trouble now! Elbows for Kavanagh! Royval recovers and is able to hold him down with an omoplata to prevent from eating more elbows and punches, but Kavanagh escapes is back to hurting him. They are back to their feet, and Royval connects more jabs before going for a takedown. Kavanagh defends, and makes him pay with a violent elbow to the head. Kavanagh attacking with low kicks before Royval clinches. Royval jabs and takes Kavanagh down, and now elbows the head of Kavanagh for a second before they back up. What a round! Kavanagh with a combo of punches and flying knee to end the round. MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Kavanagh (19-19).

Round 3: They embrace in the center of the octagon before going for it in the final stanza. And Royval hurts Kavanagh already! And Kavanagh fires back and hurts Royval! WOW! Royval shoots for a takedown and Kavanagh attacks with a guillotine but isn't that deep, and Royval escapes with ease. Elbows for Royval on top control! Kavanagh scrambles and Royval takes his back, and goes for an arm-triangle choke! It's deep! Kavanagh fights the way he can, and Royval goes to mount and loses pressure on the choke. Royval has his back again and tries to work on a rear-naked choke but Kavanagh is doing a good job fighting the hands… until he doesn't. IT'S DEEP, AND HE GETS THE TAP! What a win for Royval!

Official result: Brandon Royval def. Lone'er Kavanagh via third-round submission (rear-naked choke) (3:40)

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UFC Sacramento weigh-in video: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues

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6 hours ago

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August 21, 2026

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UFC Sacramento weigh-in video: Hernandez vs. Rodrigues

At the UFC Sacramento weigh-ins, all 26 fighters on Saturday's fight card step on the scale Friday in Sacramento, Calif. Watch UFC official weigh-in highlights above.

ceremonial weigh-ins above, set to kick off at 6 p.m. ET, with highlights of the morning weigh-ins available below.

In the main event, middleweight contenders Anthony Hernandez and Gregory Rodrigues face off. Both fighters can weigh no more than the 186-pound limit for their non-title fight.

Hernandez is currently tied with Caio Borralho for the No. 5 spot at middleweight in the MMA Fighting Global Rankings after seeing an eight-fight win streak snapped by Sean Strickland. Rodrigues sits at the edge of the rankings at No. 15.

In the co-main event, top-10 heavyweight Serghei Spivac fights Vitor Petrino. Neither fighter may weigh more than 266 pounds.

Official weigh-ins begin at 12 p.m. ET.

Ceremonial weigh-ins begin at 6 p.m. ET.

Check out the UFC Sacramento weigh-in results below.

Main Card (Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET)

Anthony Hernandez (186) vs. Gregory Rodrigues (185)

Serghei Spivac (257) vs. Vitor Petrino (246)

Reinier de Ridder (205) vs. Roman Dolidze (206)

MarQuel Mederos (156) vs. Mason Jones (156)

Carli Judice (125.5) vs. Jeisla Chaves (124.5)

Terrance Chatman (266) vs. Anthony Wint (231)

Preliminary Card (Paramount+ at 5 p.m. ET)

Jamall Emmers (143.5) vs. Lerryan Douglas (145.5)

Kennedy Nzechukwu (244) vs. Shamil Gaziev (261)

Chris Padilla (156) vs. Nasrat Haqparast (155.5)

Marcio Barbosa (145.5) vs. Ryan Kuse (144.5)

Gauge Young (155.5) vs. Stan Dorsainvil (155.5)

Wes Schultz (186) vs. Jackson McVey (185)

Shanelle Dyer (116) vs. Elise Reed (115)

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Alexander Volkanovski not thinking retirement, but would consider it if ‘things go terribly wrong’ against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333

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6 hours ago

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August 21, 2026

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Alexander Volkanovski not thinking retirement, but would consider it if ‘things go terribly wrong’ against Movsar Evloev at UFC 333

Alexander Volkanovski is one of the UFC's most enduring champions, but retirement talk is inescapable as he heads into his UFC 333 main event title defense against Movsar Evloev.

“The Great†headlines the Oct. 24 event in Abu Dhabi with his featherweight championship on the line. Volkanovski will be 38 by the time he makes his next walk to the octagon, and is currently in his second reign as 145-pound champion, having successfully defended it against Diego Lopes this past February. That marked Volkanovski's sixth championship defense overall.

He has long maintained his intention to compete as long as he's physically able and enjoying fighting, but admitted in an interview with Australia's 10 News that a bad night against Evloev could accelerate his retirement plans.

“If things go terribly wrong, alright, we're done,†Volkanovski said. “If things go very well, like the last one, no damage, go through, alright, we'll keep it rolling.â€

Volkanovski won 25 of his first 26 pro fights before venturing up to lightweight to challenge Islam Makhachev. He lost a pair of fights to the now-welterweight champion, a close decision at UFC 284 and then a knockout loss at UFC 294 in a rematch that Volkanovski took on 10 days' notice as a replacement for Charles Oliveira.

Ilia Topuria then knocked Volkanovski out at UFC 298 to claim the featherweight title—Volkanovski's first-ever loss competing at 145 pounds—but after Topuria exited the division to move up to lightweight, Volkanovski became champion again by claiming a vacant belt with a win over Lopes before defeating him again in a rematch.

That resilience has kept Volkanovski near the top of the pound-for-pound rankings, and if he gets past the undefeated Evloev or at least delivers another memorable performance on Oct. 24, don't expect Volkanovski to leave the business anytime soon.

“Taking each fight as it goes, just trying to be real with it,†Volkanovski said. “But I don't have plans on retiring right now.â€

As for what keeps bringing him back, Volkanovski mentioned enjoying training, competition, and one more key factor.

“Money's always good,†Volkanovski said with a laugh.

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Carlos Prates issues warning to Michael Morales: ‘I will knock you out really fast’ after winning UFC title

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8 hours ago

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August 21, 2026

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Carlos Prates issues warning to Michael Morales: ‘I will knock you out really fast’ after winning UFC title

Carlos Prates wants to be next in line against UFC welterweight champion Islam Makhachev, and he's open to defending the title immediately after against undefeated 170-pound contender Michael Morales.

Makhachev said in the aftermath of his UFC 330 title defense over Ian Machado Garry, which went down this past weekend in Philadelphia, that maybe Prates and Morales should face off to determine the rightful contender.

The knockout artist has a different idea in mind, though. Speaking with Champions Collection, Prates was told that Morales said he was afraid to fight him.

“If the guy has two arms, two legs, one dick like me, bro, I can fight him,†Prates said. “He said I'm scared about him? I'm not scared to fight you. I'm No. 1 contender, so I wanna fight for the belt. UFC never offered the fight against you. If they offer me, of course I would knock you out really fast. First round, so don't worry. You're gonna fight and I'm gonna knock you out.â€

“But now wait, [I'll] get my belt and then we can fight. I'm never scared to fight you, bro. Don't worry.â€

Prates claimed that Morales replied to the video he sent him, saying he was “ready to fight†him. The Brazilian then issued him a final message in Spanish.

“After I get my belt, I'll knock you out,†Prates said.

Prates won three straight in the UFC with knockouts over Geoff Neal, Leon Edwards and Jack Della Maddalena to maintain his 100 percent bonus rate in the company, while Morales won seven in a row under the UFC banner with his most recent ones being stoppages against Gilbert Burns and Sean Brady.

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