Brandon Royval claims UFC spot lost due to social media followers
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jul 22, 2026, 3:28 AM
Last updated Jul 22, 2026
Brandon Royval shared that he missed a main event opportunity at UFC due to his lower social media following compared to Alexa Grasso. Originally scheduled to fight Askar Askarov in October 2022, Royval was informed that Grasso was favored for the headlining role because of her larger online presence. Although Royval expressed frustration, Askarov ultimately withdrew from the match due to weight issues. Following this experience, Royval has increased his engagement on social media. He recently appeared at UFC 328 and interacted with fans, contributing to a boost in his profile after facing a two-fight losing streak.
- •Royval lost a main event spot to Grasso in October 2022.
- •UFC cited social media following as a key reason for the decision.
- •Askarov later pulled out of the scheduled fight.
- •Royval has since focused more on his social media engagement.
- •Royval won a Fight of the Night bonus at UFC 329.
- 3:28 AMYahoo Sports — Brandon Royval claims social media followers cost him UFC main event
"Brandon Royval once missed out on a main event spot in the Ultimate Fighting Championship due to his social media following.
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