Injured Manel Kape pulled from UFC 317, Brandon Royval now fights Joshua Van on short notice

The flyweight Top 5 could get a lot more “Fearless” in the coming weeks.

Manel Kape is injured and no longer fighting Brandon Royval at the upcoming UFC 317 pay-per-view (PPV) event in Las Vegas. Replacing “Starboy” in the preliminary card lineup on June 28 at T-Mobile Arena is red-hot flyweight prospect Joshua Van.

Yes, the same Joshua Van (14-2) who just wrecked Bruno Silva at UFC 316.

“Manel Kape is out, Joshua Van is stepping in,” Royval said on Instagram. “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.”

No word yet on the exact cause of Kape’s injuries.

This marks the second time the Kape vs. Royval fight was canceled, following an ill-timed concussion from “Raw Dog” that torpedoed their UFC Vegas 103 headliner just a few months back. Royval (17-7) is coming off back-to-back wins over Brandon Moreno (UFC Mexico City) and Tatsuro Taira (UFC Vegas 98).

For the rest of the UFC 317 fight card and PPV lineup click here.