Joshua Van Steps In for Injured Manel Kape at UFC 317

Las Vegas, Nevada – The UFC flyweight division faced a significant shake-up as Manel Kape had to withdraw from his fight against Brandon Royval at UFC 317 due to an undisclosed injury. Rising prospect Joshua Van will step in on short notice to face Royval on June 28 at T-Mobile Arena.

This matchup is crucial for both fighters; for Van, it signifies a chance to quickly ascend to the top ranks after an impressive TKO victory over Bruno Silva at UFC 316. “I have zero idea of the extent of Manel Kape’s injuries,” Royval said. “But I know I have the hottest prospect 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, emerging from a four-fight winning streak, showcased his skills in his last match, where he overwhelmed Silva with effective striking to secure a TKO at 4:01 of the third round. He is now 7-1 in his professional career, and this new opportunity is a pivotal moment that could transform him from a promising fighter to a title contender.

Royval is no stranger to high-stakes matches and is coming off back-to-back wins over notable opponents, including former champion Brandon Moreno. With this fight against Van, he aims to prove that he remains a significant threat in the flyweight division.

With Alexandre Pantoja set to defend his flyweight title against Kai Kara-France in the co-main event, the winner of the Royval-Van fight could find themselves next in line for a title shot. This fight, promising to be an action-packed showdown, will undoubtedly have critical implications for the future of the flyweight division.