Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval 2 full fight video highlights

Watch Alexandre Pantoja vs. Brandon Royval 2 full fight video highlights from the co-main event of UFC 296, courtesy of the UFC and other outlets.

UFC 296: Edwards vs. Covington took place Dec. 16 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. UFC flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja (27-5) faced off against Brandon Royval (15-7) in a rematch in the night’s co-headlining bout, which aired live on ESPN+ pay-per-view.

Catch the video highlights below.

For more on Pantoja vs Royval 2, check out the live blog by MMA Fighting’s Jed Meshew.

Round 1: Royval out in southpaw, Pantoja in orthodox and Pantoja storms across the cage and fires right hands. We are right into it!

Pantoja pressing and firing, Royval moves away and stuffs a takedown. After that initial burst, Pantoja settles in now and they sit in space and trade leg kicks.

Pantoja back to rushing in. Royval just missed a counter right hand and they clinch but break quickly. Pantoja is so hectic early and his corner is telling him to calm down. Royval showing a ton of patience in there and Pantoja lands a good body kick.

Finally settling down some. Pantoja moving around the outside. Royval sticking and cutting angles but Pantoja shoots in and gets a takedown. He’s immediately into top half guard as Royval tries to tie under and sweep off the leg. Pantoja sits on it and Royval gets back to guard.

Upkicks from Royval as Pantoja stands and tries to find a way in. He lands a good body punch and a kick to the face but Pantoja weaves his way in. Royval not letting him establish himself though and several of these kicks are landing.

But as soon as Royval tries to stand up, Pantoja dives on him and gets top hald with Royval against the fence. Royval showing a lot of urgency here, bordering on panic. Pantoja staying on and moving up the body. Royval attacks a leg and attempt to sweep.

Pantoja rolls through and stays on top and he cuts through to mount! Man is silky on the floor. Royval is able to scramble and gets back to the feet though! 30 seconds left in the round.

Big body kick from Pantoja and Royval pressing forward. Pantoja lands a good left and a leg kick before the horn.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Pantoja.

Round 2: Royval’s corner tells him they liked his decision making, that they knew the first round would be tough. So this was part of the plan it seems. Pantoja’s corner meanwhile tells him to calm down.

That was an insane pace for the first five. Let’s see if they can keep it up this round.

Royval circling immediately and eats a mean right hand when he throws a kick. Pantoja lands a body kick too. Pantoja shoots and Royval stuffs it and lands a knee. He’s attacking the body when he can. Back in space and Royval trying to establish his jab. It’s lancing in. But he gets aggressive behind it and Pantoja changes levels for a beautiful takedown.

Royval is active here trying to create space and get up but Pantoja smothers it and he’s into top half. Control grappling here as Royval is flattened out. Pantoja might be taking a breather here. Just putting pressure on and making Royval carry weight. He gets warned by Goddard for activity.

Apparently Pantoja’s corner is telling him to rest here. Smart. He’s doing it. Royval showing some activity but he can’t get his back off the mat and now Pantoja starts a pass and ends up in side control and the crucifix!

Royval is bucking and has an arm under and his bumps into half. Pantoja staying sticky on top. Allowing zero space. No damage though and Goddard warns him again.

Royval gets and underhook and tries to move but that allows Pantoja to drops some shots. Scramble ensues and Royval gets to his feet.

And Pantoja hurts Royval! A standing hammer fist as Royval gets wild and Royval is on shaky legs! Not a lot of time though and he fights it off but Pantoja gets another takedown off a kick and he’s into side control. Royval gets guard back and Pantoja stands up before the bell.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Pantonja, 20-18 Pantoja overall.

Round 3: Cardio showcase from both these men. Royval isn’t even breathing heavy.

Pantoja starts the round with a blitz and Royval catches a leg. He tries for a takedown but no joy. Pantoja lands a body kick and then catches a kick from Royval and easily takes him down. Right back to the business.

And he quickly moves to mount! Pantoja attacking an arm-triangle but Royval turns and gives up the back. Pantoja stays on it and Royval gets the reversal! But Pantoja is right back to his feet. He’s not giving up position and we’re on the feet.

And Pantoja looking winded now. Taking some deep breaths and slowing down. Royval is now. And he starts letting the hands go. Pantoja is moving slower and Royval sticking the jab and putting pressure down.

Pantoja shoots a double but Royval fends it off. Against the cage and Pantoja still working on this and if he’s tired, this ain’t gonna help. Royval breaks free and Pantoja is definitely looking labored now. His punches are much slower and he’s trying to time shots.

Royval upping his output. Not a ton of power but he’s staying busy. Pantoja fires a few rights back at him. Nice body kick from Royval lands and he stuffs a takedown attempt. Pantoja swings a tired right hand. He needs a second wind.

And Royval sticking the jab now and showing some flare. NASTY knee from Royval lands flush on the chin but Pantoja eats it and powers through into a takedown that he gets. Royval trying to stay busy from his back and Pantoja in top half moving to pass. Now he’s setting up an arm-triangle but short time and the round ends here.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Royval, 29-28 Pantoja overall.

Round 4: Close round but Pantoja’s corner tells him he lost the round. They’re telling him he needs one more round and to finish strong.

Royval definitely looks fresher to start but Pantoja marches immediately across the cage and scores a takedown. He’s into top half and Royval cannot stop him. Pantoja floating beautifully on top and steps over into 3 quarters, moving to mount. Royval defending but he fails.

Pantoja again attacking the arm triangle. Royval makes a very nice scramble but Pantoja is simply better. He follows the move through and he’s got back pack with the body triangle. He’s attacking the choke but Royval is fighting the arms.

Pantoja doesn’t need to do anything. He sits here for the next 3 minutes and he’s as good as won. Pantoja fishing an arm but Royval off to a side. But Pantoja goes other side and he’s got a chance here! It’s across the chin but the crank is there!

Royval just breaks the hands and now he’s almost turned the position! Can’t quite though. Pantoja is simply too good at this. Royval getting more wild down here with 1 minute left. But really he needs to stay alive here and just go for broke in the fight.

And he gets out! And with short time Royval gets on top and starts raining down elbows!

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-8 Pantoja, 39-36 Pantoja overall.

Round 5: Royval’s corner tells him he has to get a finish and that he has one round for everything he’s spent his whole life training for. That about sums it up.

Royval showing that urgency right away. He’s boxing in combination. Pantoja firing back but Royval is at after him. And lands a nice right hook. Man is really starting to cook!

Pantoja is tired and Royval knows he needs alot and he’s delivering. Pantoja kicking and punching back, now takedowns. He’s brawling back. And these fellas are scraping.

Pantoja grabs a clinch and Royval just punching straight through it. He breaks and back to volume. Royval getting a little tired in there too but that jab is staying after him. Pantoja kicking the leg. He’s spent though.

Royval has 3 minutes to find another gear and he’s trying. Pantoja is willing to fight back though. Royval lands a good left hand but Pantoja has him to the fence and gets a takedown!

Royval up to his feet though and trying to move. But Pantoja turns the angle and gets the takedown into space. Royval has 2 minutes to stand up and make a miracle happen and his corner is begging him.

But Pantoja is not allowing it. He’s too good from this spot. Royval’s corner telling him to risk getting stopped but he has to move. He simply cannot. This is quicksand. The more he struggles the more Pantoja is sitting on him.

Royval doing everything he can here to move and create space but it’s futile. His wrestling let him down and Pantoja has a second win with one minute left. Pantoja moving to mount now and with short time he gets it. Royval still fighting to the final bell but he’s battling the sea, simply nothing can be done.

MMA Fighting scores the round 10-9 Royval, 48-46 Pantoja overall.

Alexandre Pantoja def. Brandon Royval by unanimous decision (50-45, 50-45, 49-46).