A significant alteration has been made to the upcoming UFC 317 fight card. Flyweight contender Manel Kape has reportedly withdrawn from his scheduled matchup against Brandon Royval, citing undisclosed reasons for his departure.
Stepping up on relatively short notice to face Royval is promising young prospect Joshua Van. The bout is now expected to take place as part of the International Fight Week event on June 28th at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Brandon Royval himself confirmed the opponent change, acknowledging the challenge posed by his new foe. “Manel Kape is out, Joshua Van is stepping in,” Royval stated, adding that while he doesn`t know the specifics of Kape`s situation, he recognizes Van as a “hot prospect” and “probably the most exciting UFC flyweight.” Royval indicated that his approach remains the same, facing a dangerous opponent determined to make a name for himself.
Joshua Van recently competed just last weekend at UFC 316, where he delivered an impressive performance securing a finish over Bruno Silva. This victory extended Van`s current winning streak to four consecutive fights. The 23-year-old is widely regarded as one of the top emerging talents in the flyweight division, and facing Brandon Royval marks a considerable step up in the level of competition he has faced thus far.
Royval, a former challenger for the flyweight championship, remains a prominent figure near the top of the division`s rankings. He holds a 2-0 record in his last two outings, including a notable win against former champion Brandon Moreno. Most recently, Royval was involved in a thrilling five-round battle with Tatsuro Taira last October, a fight that earned `Fight of the Night` honors.
UFC 317 is shaping up to be a major event with a card already featuring two championship contests. Ilia Topuria is set to move up in weight to challenge Charles Oliveira for what is expected to be the vacant lightweight title, while current flyweight king Alexandre Pantoja is scheduled to defend his belt against Kai Kara-France.
