Top-ranked Ultimate Fighting Championship flyweight contender Brandon Royval has confirmed that he will serve as the official backup fighter for the upcoming championship showdown between titleholder Joshua Van and challenger Manel Kape. The high-stakes 125-pound championship bout is scheduled to headline UFC 336, which will take place on Saturday, January 30, 2027, at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Royval revealed his status for the upcoming pay-per-view card during an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show,” detailing his preparations as he gets ready to travel to Canada, make weight, and remain on standby in case either the champion or the challenger is forced to withdraw from the main event due to injury or unforeseen circumstances.
Speaking candidly about his current position in the division, Royval outlined his training schedule and the rigorous weight-cutting process he is about
to undertake to ensure he is championship-ready. "I’m the backup," Royval stated during the interview. "I’m getting in shape right now, starting to lose weight after this week. And yeah, we’ll see."
Brandon Royval Prepares to Make Weight in Toronto as Joshua Van and Manel Kape Meet for the UFC Flyweight Title
For Royval, whose professional mixed martial arts record stands at 18 wins and 9 losses, accepting the backup assignment represents a strategic move to stay relevant in an evolving and crowded flyweight division. The former title challenger finds himself in a unique and challenging professional landscape, having previously shared the Octagon with both men competing for the belt at UFC 336.
Royval’s history with the elite tier of the flyweight division includes losses to both Joshua Van and Manel Kape, a reality that complicates his immediate path back to a direct title shot. However, the 34-year-old veteran demonstrated that he remains a formidable force in the weight class during his most recent outing. At UFC 329 in July, Royval successfully rebounded into the win column by securing a definitive submission victory over Lone’er Kavanagh, forcing his opponent to tap out via a rear-naked choke in a dominant performance.
Despite that impressive bounce-back win, Royval admitted that navigating the matchmaking landscape of the division has proven difficult. Because he has already faced and fallen short against the fighters ranked at the very top, while simultaneously turning back challenges from contenders positioned behind him in the rankings, his path forward requires patience and strategic maneuvering.
"I don’t know what else I’m going to do," Royval explained to Helwani. "I’m in a weird situation where it’s like, the people in front of me beat me, and then I beat everybody behind me pretty much. So, I’m kind of waiting for a few fights to shape out before I can even have an opponent."
Prior to securing the backup role for UFC 336, Royval had targeted rising contender Asu Almabayev as a logical next step for his career. However, those potential matchmaking plans were stalled due to Almabayev being sidelined for an extended period with injuries. With limited immediate options available to book a conventional number-one contender bout, Royval recognized the immense value of inserting himself into the title equation as the official replacement fighter for Toronto.
Accepting the role guarantees that Royval will undergo a full championship training camp, hit the scales during official weigh-ins, and secure his readiness to step under the bright lights at Scotiabank Arena if lightning strikes and a late-notice change is required to save the main event. Beyond the insurance policy of potentially fighting for the belt on January 30, Royval views the opportunity as an invaluable educational experience that will keep him deeply immersed in the tactical elements of the championship picture.
"The backup spot is for sure something I want because there are chances that people pull out of fights, and there are chances that someone gets hurt or whatever it is," Royval noted. "So, it’s a situation that at least keeps me in the title picture for a little bit, and it gets me studying the champion and the contender for the championship."
As someone who has stood across the cage from both competitors, Royval brings a unique perspective and deep analytical insight into how the championship clash between Van and Kape is likely to unfold. Breaking down the stylistic matchup, Royval believes the duration of the fight will dictate the ultimate victor, pointing to Kape’s explosive early power contrasted with Van’s suffocating pace and durability over the course of five rounds.
According to Royval, if the championship bout ends prematurely, it will likely be at the hands of Kape’s heavy-handed striking and devastating knockout power. However, if the contest extends deep into the championship rounds, Royval leans toward the resilient and relentless style of the reigning champion.
"If it ends early, I think Kape will knock him out, and if it doesn’t, I think Van is just so hard to pick against that he can get it done," Royval concluded.
