Flyweight Title Eliminator Added to UFC 317
A fight with massive implications for the UFC flyweight division has just been added to UFC 317. Two of the division's top contenders, Manel Kape and Brandon Royval, will face off to seemingly determine who gets the next title shot. This is the first announced fight for UFC 317, which takes place on June 28th. Current UFC Flyweight Champion Alexandre Pantoja will be watching this fight closely, which will determine his next opponent.
Many saw Manel Kape to be next in line for a title shot. Kape, who is ranked sixth in the division, fought the champion Alexandre Pantoja in his UFC debut back in 2021. Kape would lose this fight by unanimous decision, but would quickly become a name to watch within the division. With a flashy striker fighting style and a pair of stellar performances in his last two fights, Manel Kape has emerged as a true contender.
The title of number one ranked UFC Flyweight currently belongs to Brandon Royval. The 32-year-old southpaw won two split-decision victories. One of those victories came against former champion and flyweight legend Brandon Moreno, with the other coming against prospect Tatsuro Taira. Royval has solidified himself as the clear-cut second-best fighter in his division. A win over Manel Kape not only gives Brandon Royval a title shot but also a chance to redeem his loss against the champion.
Alexandre Pantoja has quickly become one of the greatest flyweights of all time. Riding a seven-fight win streak, Pantoja has already beaten Brandon Royval twice and Manel Kape once. In any other division, perhaps neither Royval nor Kape would be in a situation to fight for a championship due to their records against the current champion. However, the current state of the flyweight division benefits Royval and Kape, because of the fact that Pantoja has beaten all other contenders as well.
Brandon Royval and Manel Kape were scheduled to fight each other at UFC Fight Night 253. Brandon Royval was forced to pull out of the fight with a head injury. In a division in which its champion has practically beaten all challengers, Manel Kape and Brandon Royval are fighting for a chance to avenge their losses. With two technical strikers being matched up against each other in a high-stakes fight, this should be a showdown to watch.
