Charles Johnson Calls Out Brandon Royval After UFC 330 Victory, Van's Behavior at UFC 331 Presser

What happened in this episode?

Ariel Helwani interviews UFC flyweight Charles Johnson after his win over late replacement Eduardo Chapellene, including Johnson’s rare Scottish twister finish and his 100k bonus. Johnson describes learning of the opponent switch while signing posters, agreeing quickly, and opting for a 130lb catchweight because he was already deep into his cut.

Johnson discusses the fight’s foul sequence, saying referee Jason Herzog later told him he missed an eye poke and that the point deduction for subsequent fouls was justified. Johnson also claims his team had warned Herzog backstage that Chapellene had previously thrown an illegal knee to a grounded opponent, based on tape study, and says repeated warnings in MMA can change how fighters approach range and exchanges.

On technique, Johnson credits recent training exchanges for sharpening his back-take game, including being caught with the same submission in sparring and later refining the position with teammates. He explains his decision to tap quickly to a leg-crank submission in a previous bout to avoid a hamstring tear, and says his recovery routine helped him return quickly.

Johnson comments on flyweight visibility and says he was not surprised by Josh Van’s confrontational press-conference style, arguing it brings attention to the division. Finally, Johnson lays out his next steps: a return within 90 days, ideally in a main event, naming Brandon Royval, Kyoji Horiguchi or Tatsuro Taira—while making clear he most wants a Royval rematch.

What are the key points?

• Johnson says he accepted a late opponent change immediately and chose a 130lb catchweight.
• He says Herzog told him post-foul that an eye poke was missed, and he backed the point deduction.
• Johnson claims his team warned Herzog pre-fight about the opponent previously throwing an illegal knee.
• He details learning and drilling the Scottish twister/back-take sequences with training partners.
• He says he tapped in a prior loss to avoid a hamstring tear and returned quickly via rehab.
• Johnson defends Josh Van’s press-conference persona and calls for more flyweight attention.
• He says he wants to fight again within 90 days, ideally a main event, with Royval his preference.

Which topics are covered?

How is this page sourced?

Programme

The Ariel Helwani Show

Published

18 August 2026

Duration

27m

Original episode

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