(Alex Nabaum)

Mixed martial arts is America’s new pastime

Brandon Royval goes by Raw Dawg. Good, good: doesn’t quite have the classical Greek ring of “dog-faced Agamemnon,” but it’s a fighter’s brand. Memorable and ridiculous. He’s the No. 3 bruiser in the 125-pound division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship. That’s one twenty-five. A wireframe warrior. Seventeen wins, seven losses. A couple of weeks before his eighth, he’s invited into the rent-a-ring at a local fight promotion in his hometown. He comes up, says a few words. I don’t remember any of them but it doesn’t matter. Verbal facility isn’t required when you can drop your opponent with a knee to

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