A significant change has occurred for the upcoming UFC 317 event. Manel Kape has withdrawn from his scheduled flyweight bout against Brandon Royval for undisclosed reasons. Stepping in on short notice to face the highly-ranked contender is promising prospect Joshua Van. This revamped matchup is set for the International Fight Week card on June 28, taking place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The news was initially shared by Brandon Royval himself on social media on Monday, with additional sources confirming to MMA Fighting the adjustment to the fight card following Kape`s withdrawal.
“Manel Kape is out, Joshua Van is stepping in,” Royval stated. “I have zero idea of the extent of Manel Kape’s injuries but I do know I have the hottest prospect and probably the most exciting UFC flyweight in front of me. Really nothing changes for me as far as what’s in front of me. I’ve got a gangster that’s ready to take my head off and earn his name off of me.”
Joshua Van is coming off a recent impressive performance just this past weekend at UFC 316, where he secured an emphatic finish against Bruno Silva. This victory extended his overall winning streak to four consecutive fights. The 23-year-old is widely considered one of the top emerging talents in the flyweight division, and facing Brandon Royval represents a substantial step up in competition for him.
Van later confirmed accepting the fight through his own social media channels.
Brandon Royval, a former challenger for the flyweight title, remains a prominent figure near the top of the divisional rankings. He holds a 2-0 record in his last two outings, which includes a notable win over former champion Brandon Moreno. In his most recent appearance last October, Royval engaged in a thrilling five-round battle against Tatsuro Taira, a contest that earned “Fight of the Night” honors.
UFC 317 is shaping up to be a major event, headlined by two championship clashes. Ilia Topuria is expected to move up in weight to challenge Charles Oliveira for what is anticipated to be a new lightweight title, while reigning flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja will defend his belt against Kai Kara-France.
