Brandon Royval vs Joshua Van

Brandon Royval squares off against 23‑year‑old sensation Joshua “The Fearless” Van at UFC 317. Van steps in on short notice with momentum and elite striking. Can Royval’s experience overpower Van's youth and aggression?

Core Stats Comparison

Striking Breakdown:

Joshua Van dominates the numbers on the feet. He boasts a 55% striking accuracy, 60% defense, and lands a staggering 8.1 significant strikes per minute—an elite output. However, his aggressive style comes at a cost: he absorbs 5.24 strikes per minute, leaving him vulnerable in exchanges. In contrast, Brandon Royval’s stats are more modest—39% accuracy, 47% defense, and 4.46 strikes landed per minute—but he absorbs much less at 3.06, reflecting a more measured and evasive striking style.

Grappling Breakdown:

This matchup is fairly balanced on the ground. Royval has the edge in takedown accuracy at 75%, versus Van’s 64%, while Van leads in takedown defense at 81%, significantly better than Royval’s 45%. Both average about 1 takedown per 15 minutes, but Royval presents more submission danger, averaging 1.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes, compared to 0 from Van.

Summary:

Joshua Van brings overwhelming volume and pressure, making him a serious threat on the feet with one of the highest striking outputs in the division. But Brandon Royval’s experience  make him a dangerous, well-rounded opponent. While the stats favor Van in several areas, Royval’s history against top-tier competition could be the X-factor in this matchup.