A significant title eliminator is set for UFC 317 during this year’s International Fight Week. On June 28th, Ilia Topuria and Charles Oliveira will battle for the vacant lightweight championship, while flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja aims to defend his title for the fourth time against Kai Kara-France in the co-main event.
The UFC 317 undercard faced a shakeup when Manel Kape withdrew due to injury from his scheduled flyweight bout with top contender Brandon Royval. The UFC has since found a replacement at UFC 316 in the form of 23-year-old flyweight Joshua Van, one of the most active fighters in the promotion, having competed five times in the past 11 months. Van recently secured his fourth straight victory by TKO against #12 ranked Bruno Silva at UFC 316 and will quickly turn around to face Loibal at UFC 317 on June 28th.
Loibal confirmed on Instagram, “Manel Kape is out. Joshua Van steps in.” He expressed excitement over the matchup, calling Van one of the most thrilling prospects in the flyweight division and sees this fight as one of the most compelling on the flyweight title card, which also includes Pantoja vs. Kara-France.
Brandon Royval, a former title challenger with wins over Brandon Moreno and Tatsuro Taira, is reportedly just one win away from another title shot. Joshua Van, nicknamed “The Fearless,” indicated he wants to fight as much as possible following his recent victory, a mentality praised by UFC CEO Dana White. White compared Van’s hunger to that of elite fighters in other combat sports and praised the young fighter’s commitment to staying active.
Fan Take: This development injects fresh excitement into the flyweight division, highlighting how rising stars like Joshua Van are willing to seize every opportunity to prove themselves. For fight fans, having highly active and motivated contenders challenges the status quo and promises dynamic matchups that keep the sport evolving and engaging.
