UFC Fight Night 244 live winners and losers, results | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Saturday’s main event was objectively incredible. In one corner we had the top contender in the flyweight division, Brandon Royval. On the other hand, we had Tatsuro Taira, an undefeated competitor from Japan. The stakes couldn’t have been clearer: The winner would deserve the next shot at the belt, which will be up for grabs next when Alexandre Pantoja takes on Kai Asakura at UFC 310.

In the end it was an incredibly close fight.

Even in defeat, Taira proved that he is one of the best flyweights in the world. Meanwhile, Royval proved he deserves his No. 1 spot and the next shot at the belt – be it against Pantoja or Asakura.

But here’s what we’re all thinking: It wasn’t that long ago that the UFC had Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson under its exclusive, contractual control. This guy was and is one of The He was the greatest individual fighter in MMA history, and contrary to all of Dana White’s whining, they didn’t know how to promote him. They also didn’t know how to promote the division he dominated – the talented flyweight class – so much so that they considered abandoning it altogether.

Thank God they didn’t. Today the division is home to players like Royval, Taira, Asakura and Pantoja. If we’re talking pure talent – with reference to the great Cain Velasquez – the flyweight division makes the heavyweight division look like a bunch of drunk dads playing touch football.

Thank God they kept it again.