Due to undisclosed reasons, Manel Kape has withdrawn from his scheduled bout against Brandon Royval at UFC 317. With Kape sidelined, Joshua Van has agreed to step in on short notice to face Royval. This flyweight matchup is now set for the International Fight Week card, which takes place on June 28 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Brandon Royval confirmed the opponent change on social media on Monday. Additional sources also verified that the fight was being arranged 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.”
Van is coming off a recent victory at UFC 316 last weekend, where he achieved a decisive finish against Bruno Silva, marking his fourth consecutive win. The 23-year-old is considered a top flyweight prospect, but facing Royval represents a significant step up in competition.
Van also later confirmed the booking on social media.
Royval, a former flyweight title challenger, is a strong contender near the top of the division rankings. He holds a 2-0 record in his last two bouts, including a victory over former champion Brandon Moreno. His most recent fight was a competitive five-round contest against Tatsuro Taira in October, which earned Fight of the Night honors.
The UFC 317 event is set to feature two title fights at the top of the card. Ilia Topuria is scheduled to challenge Charles Oliveira for the lightweight championship, and flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja will defend his belt against Kai Kara-France.
