Brandon Royval and Brandon Moreno agree they have a score to settle on Saturday when they rematch in the main event of UFC Fight Night. The five-round battle between ranked flyweight contenders will anchor the main UFC fight card starting at 10 p.m. ET from Arena CDMX in Mexico City. The top-ranked Moreno and No. 3-ranked Royval met in November 2020, with Moreno notching the win after an injury forced Royval to withdraw after a wild first round. However, both fighters told the media this week that they feel the first encounter didn't net a satisfactory conclusion and Saturday's rematch will determine the true winner in their rivalry.
Moreno is a -270 favorite (risk $270 to win $100), while Royval comes back at +220 in the latest UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 odds. In the co-main event, ranked bantamweight contenders meet as Yair Rodriguez (-165) takes on Brian Ortega (+135). Before making your picks for UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2, make sure you see the MMA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine expert Daniel Vithlani.
From breaking down film and following fighters and their camps closely, to tracking sharp action and betting market signals, Vithlani covers the breadth of the MMA betting landscape top to bottom. He also trains amateur boxers and speaks regularly with MMA fighters to understand the sport's nuances.
Vithlani made his SportsLine debut last January of last year and swept the main card for UFC 283 with a 5-0 record and has been a consistent winner ever since. At UFC 292 in August, he called the upset for underdog Sean O'Malley (+210) against Aljamain Sterling (-250) in the bantamweight championship main event. Anyone who has followed Vithlani already has seen massive returns.
Now, UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 in sight, Vithlani has studied the UFC card from top to bottom and released his top selections. You can only see those picks at SportsLine.
UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2 preview
The main event Saturday is a rematch, which is far more the rule than the exception in a division that has long suffered from a lack of world-class depth at the top. In fact, Moreno's memorable four-fight rivalry with former champion Deiveson Figueiredo is widely credited for saving a division that UFC president Dana White once openly considered eliminating.
Moreno (21-7-2) got the final say with a second-round stoppage last January of Figueiredo, who has since moved up to bantamweight. However, the 30-year-old Mexican fighter's second stint as flyweight champion was cut short by a razor-thin decision loss to Pantoja.
A similar rivalry could be brewing between Moreno and Royval. Their first meeting in November 2020 resulted in a first-round stoppage for Moreno with one second left in what had been a wild first round marked by both fighters coming close to finishes on multiple occasions.
Royval (15-7) is known for his versatility and blistering pace that forces opponents to dig deep if they intend to keep up. But following a three-fight winning streak that included two performance bonuses to earn his title shot, the 31-year-old Denver native gave a lackluster showing in his first title-fight appearance. You can only see who to pick at UFC Fight Night here.
UFC Fight Night predictions
We'll share one of Vithlani's UFC Fight Night selections here: He is siding with Yazmin Jauregui (-530) to get the better of Sam Hughes (+400) in a battle of women's strawweight prospects on the main card.
Jauregui (10-1) landed on the radar of UFC brass and MMA observers in 2021 when she won a Combate Global tournament by winning all three of her fights, with two of the victories coming by first-round knockout. The Mexican power puncher then won her first two UFC appearances but is coming off her first professional defeat. She was stopped by veteran Denise Gomes in the first round of their June battle last year.
Hughes (8-5) is a former Legacy Fighting Alliance title challenger who lost his first three UFC fights before rebounding just when her roster spot appeared in jeopardy. The versatile fighter has won three of her past four, including a decision over Jaqueline Amorim last April.
"Hughes has the toughness, cardio and experience to make her a tough out for any opponent. But talent-wise, she is simply outmatched," Vithlani told SportsLine. See who else to back here.
UFC Fight Night picks
Vithlani has strong picks for Moreno vs. Royval and other bouts on the UFC Fight Night card. He's also backing a fighter who "is one of the most dynamic strikers in MMA" to emerge with a dominant victory. Those picks are only available at SportsLine.
Who wins UFC Fight Night: Moreno vs. Royval 2, and how exactly does each fight end? Visit SportsLine now to get detailed picks on UFC Fight Night, all from the MMA expert who profited more than $6,200, and find out.
UFC Fight Night odds, fight card
See full UFC Fight Night picks, predictions, best bets here.
Brandon Moreno (-270) vs. Brandon Royval (+220)
Brian Ortega (+135) vs. Yair Rodriguez (-165)
Daniel Zellhuber (-275) vs. Francisco Prado (+225)
Raul Rosas (-260) vs. Ricky Turcios (+210)
Yazmin Jaregui (-530) vs. Sam Hughes (+400)
Raoni Barcelos (-175) vs. Christian Quinonez (+145)
Edgar Chairez (-355) vs. Daniel Lacerda (+280)
Fares Ziam (-220) vs. Claudio Puelles (+180)
Muhammad Naimov (-330) vs. Erik Silva (+285)
Felipe Dos Santos (-295) vs. Victor Altamirano (+240)
