VSIN Host recommended betting Brandon Royval as a slight underdog against Joshua Van. While Van is the hyped 23-year-old, this will be his seventh fight in six months, and the host compared that schedule to "trying to pack five pounds of manure in a two-pound bag." He warned that such a workload invites burnout and noted Royval’s championship-level pedigree, slick scrambles, and submission threat. Royval’s awkward 5'9" frame and long limbs create grappling transitions that most prospects have never seen, and the host expects those looks to expose Van’s inexperience. Calling this a "PhD in MMA" test, he believes Royval’s pace and creativity break Van down late and views the current plus money as disrespectful.

Matt Perrault took Brandon Royval at even money, arguing the line should be flipped. Royval’s only three UFC losses are to current champ Alexandre Pantoja (twice) and former champ Brandon Moreno, so Perrault views him as battle-tested at the elite level. The 31-year-old owns a 5'9" frame and 68-inch reach, giving him four inches of height and three inches of reach on 23-year-old Joshua Van. Perrault highlighted that Van is stepping in on short notice after fighting just last month and is making a massive jump in competition from Bruno Silva to Royval. Statistically, Van’s 8.2 significant strikes landed per minute look great, but he absorbs 5.26 per minute and sports only a +0.2 differential, whereas Royval is far harder to hit (3.06 absorbed per minute). Perrault expects Royval’s submission game, experience, and length to neutralize Van’s pace and cash the plus-money ticket.

Bisping predicted Brandon Royval will hand knockout artist Joshua Van his first UFC loss. Van’s quick turnaround after a highlight KO at UFC 316 impressed Bisping, but he reminded listeners Royval owns wins over most non-title contenders at 125 lbs and only loses to elite names like Alexandre Pantoja and Brandon Moreno. Royval’s chaotic style, lightning scrambles, and slick submissions give him “more ways to skin the cat,” as Bisping put it. He expects Royval’s grappling transitions to overwhelm Van once the boxing exchanges hit the mat, making Royval a smart side for straight wagers or DFS lineups built around submission upside.

Dan Tom endorsed betting Brandon Royval at plus money (roughly +110) even though Royval checks several of Tom’s usual fade boxes—32-years old, 5-foot-9 frame draining to 125, and a recent concussion withdrawal. Tom argued the number overcorrects for those worries because Joshua Van is taking a massive class jump from Ray Saria to a former title challenger. Tape study showed Van repeatedly giving away Round 1, especially when southpaws convinced him to abandon his jab and lunge naked right hands (see Charles Johnson fight). That chasing footwork runs directly into Royval’s pull-counters, flying knees and left body-kicks, and any scramble favors Royval’s slick grappling. With a three-inch reach edge and far deeper resume, Royval should bank the opening frame and force the 22-year-old to chase the fight—exactly where veterans have historically punished swaggering prospects. Tom said he’ll fire one unit on the money-line wherever plus odds remain, calling it a ‘can’t pass’ price.

Madlab Michael Lurato recommended grabbing Brandon Royval at the current +100 price, predicting the former title challenger will bank round one and ride that momentum to a decision or late finish. Lurato’s core narrative is that Joshua Van habitually treats the opening frame like sparring—he ‘puts it in cruise control,’ lands just 25–30 significant strikes, then attempts to rally. That pattern worked against lower-tier opposition but is dangerous against a crafty veteran. Royval’s awkward stance-switching, lateral movement, and constant submission threats force opponents to enter cautiously; Lurato believes those layered looks will steal the first five minutes on activity alone. Once Van is down 0-1 on the cards he must win two straight rounds against a man who has gone five with the division’s elite—something Lurato doubts a 22-year-old prospect can manage inside three. He suggested straight money-line plays and small sprinkles on Royval by decision (+240) as the safest angle, noting that Van’s durability should let the fight reach the cards even if scrambles get wild.

Danny Brasco grabbed Brandon Royval as a slight dog, insisting the number underrates proven elite experience. Royval already has five-round wars with champ Alexandre Pantoja and a victory over Brandon Moreno on his resume, whereas Joshua Van has yet to face a ranked opponent. Brasco loves Royval’s twitchy feints, long knees up the middle and chaotic scramble game that forces exchanges Van has never seen. Van walks forward behind crisp boxing, but Brasco warns that forward pressure feeds perfectly into Royval’s intercepting knees and opportunistic front-headlock series. On the mat, Royval averages 1.4 submission attempts per minute and has “been in every position imaginable” against world-class grapplers. Brasco thinks Van’s skill set is exciting but unfinished; at plus money he’d “rather back the finished product who has already solved championship-level puzzles.”

Brian Campbell locked in Brandon Royval at +100 and paired him with Ilia Topuria for a +138 money-line parlay, but emphasized Royval as the key value piece. Campbell argued that the 32-year-old “Raw Dawg” has only lost to championship talent—two setbacks to current champ Alexandre Pantoja and one to Brandon Moreno—and went five competitive rounds with Pantoja just 18 months ago. Joshua Van’s 7-1 record and boxing flair impress Campbell, yet Van is taking a quantum leap in opposition on only three weeks’ notice after fighting four times in the past year. Campbell trusts Royval’s relentless pace (6.8 significant strikes landed per minute), proven five-round cardio and dangerous scrambling to expose the prospect’s inexperience. With Royval never having been cleanly knocked out—his lone TKO is a shoulder injury—Campbell labeled the veteran a “levels” play and the perfect partner for the near-automatic Topuria leg.

Kunath said Brandon Royval is the side and specifically played him by decision at near-pick-em odds. He stressed four advantages: (1) Royval has been in camp for months preparing for Manel Kape, another boxing-centric power puncher, so the southpaw’s timing and cardio are already dialed in. (2) Joshua Van is only 23 and taking the steepest step-up of his career on a three-week turnaround, the shortest he has ever attempted. Kunath doubts Van’s gas tank if pace spikes late. (3) Royval owns a clear grappling edge—2.2 submission attempts per 15 minutes—and should punish any lazy entries while forcing scrambles Van has never seen. (4) At 5'9" with a 70" reach, Royval can jab, teep and counter as Van rushes inside, then make the youngster pay for closing distance. Kunath expects the veteran to bank the bigger moments, match Van’s volume, and win 29-28 type cards, making the decision prop a value add to straight money-line plays.

Kunath recommended taking plus-money on Brandon Royval against Joshua Van. Royval has spent years facing elite flyweights and brings frantic scramble ability, 5-minute-pace striking volume, and finishing threats on the mat or feet. Kunath praised Van’s boxing and recent Bruno Silva knockout but flagged concerns: this is Van’s shortest career turnaround and a massive step up in competition. Meanwhile, Royval has been in camp preparing for Manel Kape and is fully conditioned. Kunath believes Royval’s chaotic style, superior cardio, and submission danger will overwhelm Van once exchanges hit scramble sequences past the first round, making the underdog line disrespectful and worth a bet.

Sniper called Brandon Royval at +100 "almost for sure a bet" and likes him even more on DraftKings at $8,200. He reminded listeners that Royval’s only UFC losses came to champions Alexandre Pantoja (twice) and Brandon Moreno, whereas Josh Van is stepping in on short notice for the biggest fight of his 23-year-old life. Van’s shiny 81 % takedown defense is inflated, Sniper noted, because opponents panic-wrestle after absorbing his 8.2 significant strikes per minute. Royval can match that chaos pace—averaging 4.4 landed per minute himself—while adding a lethal grappling layer: nine career submissions and a willingness to attack off his back. Van attempts just 0.3 takedowns per five minutes, meaning Royval should dictate any ground exchanges and pile up control, advances, and submission attempts that DraftKings scores love. Sniper will be overweight on Royval and underweight on Van, expecting the veteran to either finish via grappling or win a high-volume decision that clears 100 DK points.