The Taira vs Royval odds are unique, as Tatsuro Taira, a man many fans expect to be a UFC flyweight champion, faces his shortest odds in a while.
Taira is a -220 favorite over recent title challenger Brandon Royval, who comes back as a +180 underdog.
These are two very talented flyweights, and I'm excited for this Fight Night main event matchup on October 12, so let's dive into the Taira vs Royval odds and find some value.
Taira vs Royval Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Tatsuro Taira | -220 |
| Brandon Royval | +180 |
Odds as of October 7
Our odds calculator suggests Taira's -220 odds imply a 68.75% chance of victory, with a $100 bet paying out $145.45. At +180 odds, Royval gets a 35.71% chance, and a $100 bet cashes $280.
How Taira Wins
Taira is an incredible grappler, and he'll lead with that approach vs Royval. The Japanese youngster is an excellent offensive wrestler, capable of maneuvering his opponents into perfect positions where he can lock down a submission.
We watched Royval struggle against Alexandre Pantoja's offensive grappling at UFC 296. Now it's possible Pantoja is just a way better grappler, but Taira is considered elite in that regard, and Royval didn't show me enough to suggest he can recover after finding himself in a very compromising position.
I recommend betting Taira by decision or submission.
How Royval Wins
"Raw Dawg" wins by being a dog. He's a very scrappy fighter, quite comfortable to scramble or roll around the cage to embrace chaos. He might have a striking edge against Taira, but most of his time on the feet might be dedicated to cautiously attacking and fending off takedowns.
Royval can win this fight by dragging it out. Get Taira going side to side. Force him to expel tons of energy for takedown attempts and then explode in the second half of the fight. We've yet to see Taira fight into Round 4 in the UFC, and we know Royval can hang with the best into the final rounds of a championship fight.
Taira vs Royval Betting Pick
Taira is the real deal, and while I think Royval is a live underdog, the underdog's lack of defensive wrestling has me worried we could see a one-sided showing.
I'll take Taira to win this fight by decision.
