UFC Vegas 98: Royval vs. Taira Betting Picks, Odds and Predictions
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David Manyun
- October 12, 2024
Our Top Betting Pick for UFC Vegas 98
UFC Pick: Tatsuro Taira ML (-241) at Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review)
Following another brutal Alex Pereira knockout win at UFC 307 this past weekend, the UFC returns to the UFC Apex in Nevada this Saturday, with top contending flyweight competitors preparing to exchange leather for the evening’s main event, and we’re covering all your betting needs from top sportsbooks.
One of Japan’s brightest prospects, Tatsuro Taira, with a 16-0 undefeated record, looks to collect his seventh straight win in the octagon. Still, a former 125lb title challenger in Brandon Royval will have something to say about that!
Read on for our complete betting guide with an early preview of the UFC Vegas 98 main event clash between Royval and Taira, including updated UFC odds and our free expert UFC first-look betting picks, predictions, and analysis.
If you’re looking for more value picks, make sure to take a look at our YouTube channel for more daily betting advice. Today, our expert has advice on the Julia Polastri vs. Cory McKenna and Jonathan Pearce vs. Pat Sabatini bouts.
Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira
UFC Vegas 98 Flyweight Main Event Bout
UFC Vegas 98 Information
- When: Saturday, October 12, 2024 – 04:00 PM ET
- Where: UFC Apex, Las Vegas
- Scheduled Bouts: 13
- Main Event: Brandon Royval vs. Tatsuro Taira
- Moneyline Probability: Taira – 70.7% (-241) Royval – 27.4% (+265)
UFC Vegas 98 Main Event Profiles
Tatsuro Taira
Japan’s Tatsuro Taira entered the UFC in 2022 with the usual terminology against his name that most undefeated prospects are attached to: ‘hype train,’ ‘unproven prospect,’ and ‘fraud check incoming,’ to name a few.
But guess what? Taira has added six victories to his undefeated record since joining the promotion. He’s 16-0 with twelve wins by submission or KO/TKO, and we can no longer refer to him as a prospect… He’s here to stay, and he’s a damn good fighter!
Taira Best Moneyline Odds: (-270) at Bookmaker
Brandon Royval
Former title challenger Brandon Royval has evolved into a flyweight mainstay since joining the UFC in 2020. He was the most recent LFA 125lb champ at the time of his debut, and when he walked through a veteran in Tim Elliott and a top-ranked foe in Kai Kara-France in his first two fights, we knew we had a special talent on our hands.
Ok, so a 16-7 pro record isn’t perfect. However, when you realize Royval’s only UFC losses came against the former champion Brandon Moreno, which he most recently avenged, and the current champ Alexandre Pantoja (twice), you’ll soon understand how high his ceiling is and that he’ll be the toughest test of Taira’s career thus far.
Royval Best Moneyline Odds: (+265) at BetOnline
UFC Vegas 98: Tale of the Tape
| Brandon Royval | UFC Vegas 98 | Tatsuro Taira |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Age | 24 |
| 5’9” | Height | 5’7” |
| 70.5” | Reach | 70” |
| USA | Nationality | Japan |
| FactoryX Muay Thai | Affiliation | The Paraestra Okinawa |
| 1 win | Current Streak | 16 wins |
| 16-7-0 | Pro Record | 16-0-0 |
| 6-3 | UFC Record | 6-0 |
UFC Vegas 98 Skillset Analysis: Styles Make Fights
Royval’s evolution has been impressive. He’s an absolute firecracker in the octagon with unlimited cardio, thus making him a nightmare opponent for most, particularly in a 25-minute contest. He’s dangerous off his back behind a BJJ black belt, has insane striking volume on the feet, and, of course, an unforgettable finishing ability that’s seen him collect five of his six UFC wins by submission or knockout.
That said, I love Taira. At age 24, there isn’t a more talented fighter below his mid-twenties on the UFC roster. He’s an absolute savage in the wrestling department. In a division where flyweights are agile and can usually scramble out of position, Taira’s top control is so impressive that even the most nimble 125-pounders struggle to fight out of his grasp.
What’s more impressive is Taira’s hunger for finishes. He prefers to hunt submissions, and with the back control he’s shown in the past versus Royval’s weakness from such a position, it’s a viable path to victory. However, his striking is the most underrated aspect of his game. No, he’s not perfect, but to suggest he’s completely outmatched in this area is nuts. Just rewatch the Alex Perez fight and his defensive movement or the Carlos Hernandez knockout win.
Taira Moneyline: The UFC Vegas 98 Best Bet Formula
I previously mentioned how Royval will be the toughest test of Taira’s career to date. While true, it could also be the perfect stylistic fight capable of producing his most impressive performance in the cage.
The available UFC odds have placed Taira as the betting favorite, and rightfully. We could very well be looking at the future champion here, and receiving a -241 moneyline price on him now might feel like a missed opportunity in the future.
The chaos of Royval inside the cage, with forward pressure and consistent offense, feeds right into Taira’s style, who can out-grapple the man who consistently throws heat up close. Royval invites the madness and isn’t the greatest defensive fighter, which results in the takedowns being live. Royval’s weakness is undoubtedly his takedown defense, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Taira dominate in this area, like his middle name is Khabib.
The unpredictability of how Royval leaves this fight result open to a knockout, submission, or decision loss, I have to back the moneyline, although I wouldn’t be mad at backing the Japanese star to finish this one before the judges intervene.
UFC Pick: Tatsuro Taira ML (-241) [2.4u to win 1u] at Bookmaker
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
