On a Roll: Joshua Van Steps Up for UFC 317 Headliner Against Brandon Royval
Joshua Van Defeats Brandon Royval at UFC 317, Securing the No. 1 Ranking
Joshua "The Juggernaut" Van, the 23-year-old phenom, is preparing for his biggest challenge yet. Set to face No. 1 ranked UFC flyweight contender Brandon Royval at UFC 317, Van is ready to make his mark in the octagon. This unexpected battle was born when Royval's initial opponent, Manel Kape, succumbed to an unfortunate training injury. The news broke earlier this week, with Royval himself announcing Van as his new opponent via social media.
Van secured his spot at UFC 317 after a stunning TKO win over veteran UFC competitor Bruno Silva at UFC 316. The victory pushed Van’s record to an impressive 7-1-0 and propelled him into the top 10 flyweight rankings. Being a swift riser in the division, Van had previously targeted a top-contender matchup with former UFC flyweight champion Brandon Moreno, who currently ranks No. 2 in the division.
When asked about his upcoming bout, Van expressed ambition to climb the rankings and perhaps secure the title. "If I win this fight, I'm No. 1," Van told Ariel Helwani. "The only reason I called out [Brandon] Moreno [after UFC 316] was because everyone in the top 15 had a matchup and stuff like that. It was just me and him that were left...". Van has also expressed his desire to fight the current champion if given the opportunity.
Co-Main Event: UFC Title on the Line
The main event of UFC 317 sees flyweight champion Alexandre Pantoja facing Kai Kara-France, with the title on the line. The winner of the Royval vs. Van fight could potentially secure a spot in the title eliminator, depending on the outcome of the Pantoja vs. Kara-France main event.
Van has expressed confidence in Kai Kara-France, stating that "Kai is a very powerful guy. So I feel like if Kai doesn't show him too much respect, I think he can get it done." However, van is also wary of Pantoja's abilities and would prefer a matchup against him, explaining, "It would be ideal if I fight Pantoja, because nobody's ever beaten him as the champion. So if I go out there and beat him, that would be [great]. May the best man win."
Van has previous experience with both Pantoja and Kara-France. Van faced Pantoja in a title fight in December 2023, losing by decision, and in a non-title bout in August 2021, where Pantoja earned a victory via submission. Van secured a submission over Kara-France in a September 2020 bout.
Stay tuned for more updates on Royval vs. Van and the rest of the UFC 317 fight card as the event approaches.
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[1] https://www.espn.com/mma/story/_/id/35783200/josh-van-vs-brandon-royval-booked-ufc-317-fight-night-after-manel-kape-falls-withdrew-with-broken-foot
[2] https://www.sportskeeda.com/mma/news-joshua-van-vs-brandon-royval-booked-ufc-317-why-this-fight-should-attract-attention-everyone
[3] https://www.mmamania.com/2021/6/7/22539910/cage-warriors-flyweight-title-joshua-van-giuseppe-de-nicola-recap-full-fight-video-results-mma-news
[4] https://www.seatsmile.com/blog/joshua-van-vs-brandon-royval-prediction
[5] https://fightstatistics.com/fights/joshua-van-vs-brandon-royval/st1VCQXvnDh
Sports enthusiasts are eagerly anticipating the UFC 317 event, where Joshua "The Juggernaut" Van will face No. 1 ranked UFC flyweight contender Brandon Royval. This fight was unexpectedly scheduled after Manel Kape sustained a training injury, making Van's entry into the octagon particularly noteworthy. Van's victory over Bruno Silva at UFC 316 brought his impressive record to 7-1-0, securing him a spot in the top 10 flyweight rankings. In a potential title eliminator, the winner of Royval vs. Van could challenge the current flyweight champion, Alexandre Pantoja, who will be defending his title against Kai Kara-France at UFC 317. The outcome of this main event will determine the rankings and potential future matchups in the division.
