Brandon Royval & Tatsuro Taira are both better than we realized

I underestimated Brandon Royval when I picked Tatsuro Taira to beat him,
but paradoxically I also underestimated Taira himself.

UFC Vegas 98's main event delivered, and then some. In this instant 'Fight of the Year' contender, the competition was so tight that Royval and Taira both deserved 10-8 rounds on the cards, both barely survived at times, and the fight was tied going into the final round.

Competitiveness is great, but the action delivered in a big way too. The third round was one of the craziest of the year; Taira had never been tested, never was hit more than 25 times in a fight until his last fight, but survived 56 in round three alone, including a knee and several flurries which would have finished most other fighters, even at this level.

Finding out that not only is Taira an elite grappler, but also has the heart, chin and toughness of a true champion, makes me all the more confident in his future. Losing at age 24 to the number one contender is hardly a reason to discount a formerly undefeated phenom.

And when that same prospect is able to not only survive the beating that Tatsuro Taira took in round three, but also end the round on top with a rear-naked choke almost locked up, it's fair to think higher of him in defeat.

Taira was also met with stiff resistance to get the fight to the ground and keep it there. His trump card of taking the back with a body triangle worked when he could get there, but 'Raw Dawg' made it hell for him to keep it. It was all Tatsuro could do to keep position; he was often unable to focus on his own offense, even from such a dominant position.

However, the skill, technique, and leg dexterity required to keep some of those positions could be compared to that of champion-level grapplers in this sport such as Charles Oliveira or flyweight champ Alexandre Pantoja.

The budding Japanese star's use of the power half nelson to maintain control was a frequent sight. By breaking Royval's posture, he was better able to resecure his own dominant position, even when halfway fallen off due to Brandon twisting his body or grabbing a leg in his attempt to swivel and face Taira.

Yet for everything new we learned about Taira in this fight, Brandon Royval showed a major improvement across the board. His scrambles were more purposeful, his takedown defense more responsible, his boxing less floppy and much more damaging.

When the fight was tied going into the final round and Mark Montoya bid his star pupil to focus on underhooks and takedown defense, he did. When Montoya told him not to give his back in the attempt to get up, he didn't.

As a result of being supremely coachable and focused, Royval was not only able to win the round, but he closed the fight out from top position, turning the tables, even taking Taira's back and achieving a credible choke attempt.

Although he had struggled when the fight got to the floor all fight, Royval finished strong and did what great fighters do; he beat his rival at their own game. Despite any flaws Taira had on the feet, like his porous boxing guard and lack of head movement, his skill on the mats makes him elite.

This rapid growth and surmounting of two difficult obstacles -- beating an elite grappler as well as a man who finished Royval once before -- show that 'Raw Dawg' does have an argument for another title shot, even with two losses to the current champion in the bank.

If Kai Asakura dethrones Alexandre Pantoja, then it becomes academic, but Royval has shown he poses a threat to the current champion that he did not before. His willingness to fight anyone, including offering to be a backup for the UFC Edmonton flyweight main event in just three weeks.

Kai-Kara France is also looming in the title picture, as well as Amir Albazi, but Brandon Royval remains the number one contender and deserves the next shot at the throne of the little men, where scrambles, speed, and skill reign supreme.