Brandon Royval had to withdraw from his scheduled fight last month due to concerning health issues that required him to take time off from training.
Royval was supposed to fight Manel Kape on March 1st. Kape later fought and defeated Asu Almabayev in a dominant, though somewhat controversial, match.
Both Royval and Kape are aiming for the title, but it now seems likely that Kai Kara-France will challenge Alexandre Pantoja for the flyweight title at UFC 317.
Royval previously mentioned that he withdrew from the fight because of ongoing concussion symptoms. This serious condition led him to make the difficult decision to pull out.
The fight between Royval and Kape has been rescheduled for International Fight Week on June 28th. Royval, who has previously challenged for the title, has now shared more information about his recent health problems.
Brandon Royval Reveals Speech and Focus Problems After Concussion
In a recent interview, Brandon Royval discussed in detail the health problems he experienced around the time his fight with Manel Kape was cancelled.
Royval mentioned in a YouTube video that he had a concussion a few months prior and took time off to recover. However, after starting training camp for the March 1st fight, he suffered another concussion.
After experiencing symptoms for a week, Royval decided it was best to postpone his return rather than compete while still dealing with the effects of the concussion.
He explained that the symptoms he experienced were much more severe than any previous concussion. His speech, focus, reactions, and memory were all affected. He stated that if he hadn`t withdrawn when he did, he would have had to before entering the Octagon.
Brandon Royval Initially Hesitant to Discuss Concussion Issues
Brandon Royval has been very open about his concussion issues, which is unusual for active fighters.
In the same interview, he said that he initially didn`t plan to discuss it publicly because he didn`t want people to make assumptions.
“I don’t think high-level athletes talk about it, even though it’s common in the sport. I was going to hide it. I thought, ‘I’m not telling anyone about a concussion because I don’t want any assumptions going around.’”
Ultimately, Royval decided that being honest about his health was the best decision for his well-being and future career leading up to UFC 317.
“I wanted to be open about this because I don’t want to have speech problems later in life, like stuttering at 40 or 50. I have a life and career after fighting that I’m thinking about.”
Rupert Hartwell 
Benedict Kingsley