Charles Johnson Wants Royval Rematch, and He Wants It in 90 Days

Charles Johnson isn't interested in waiting around. The No. 14-ranked UFC flyweight says he wants to be back in the cage within 90 days of getting healthy, and he's already named the guys he'd take: Brandon Royval, Kyoji Horiguchi or Tatsuro Taira. Top of that wishlist is Royval, the No. 3 flyweight who already owns a win over him.

At 20-9 (8 KO, 4 SUB), Johnson is riding momentum after submitting Eduardo Chapolin in the third round last time out. A rematch with Royval would be the classic contender's play — beat the man who beat you, skip a rung or two, and vault into the title conversation in one fight. Johnson said he'd happily take any of the three names on offer.

Why Royval Is the Prize

Royval is the fight that makes the most sense on paper. He's ranked 11 spots above Johnson at No. 3, and he's coming off his own third-round submission — a finish of Lone'er Kavanagh. At 18-9 with 10 career submissions, Royval is one of the most dangerous grapplers in the division, and a win over him would erase Johnson's earlier loss while doubling as a genuine ranking jump.

The other two names carry their own weight, and both are arguably a bigger leap. Tatsuro Taira sits at No. 4 with an 18-2 record and eight submissions, though he's coming off a fifth-round TKO loss to Joshua Van. Horiguchi, the No. 5 flyweight, is a 36-6 veteran who most recently ate a third-round KO from Manel Kape — a name that still moves the needle even in defeat.

The Math on a Quick Turnaround

The 90-day timeline is the interesting part. Johnson has built his UFC run on activity, and a fast turnaround against a ranked opponent is exactly the kind of high-variance bet that either fast-tracks a fighter or exposes them. Royval, Taira and Horiguchi are all top-five names — there's no soft option in the trio.

For now it's a callout, not a booking. But Johnson has laid out a clear plan: get healthy, take a ranked opponent, and do it before winter. Whether the UFC hands him Royval or sends someone else his way, he's made his priorities public and put a clock on them.