Joshua Van to Defend Flyweight Title Against Manel Kape at UFC 336

UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van is set to defend his belt against Manel Kape at UFC 336, which is scheduled to take place on Jan. 30 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The title clash was officially announced during the UFC 333 broadcast on Saturday. The event's co-main event will feature Carlos Prates squaring off against Michael Morales for the interim welterweight championship.

The 25-year-old Van has enjoyed a rapid ascent in the division since taking a short-notice bout against Brandon Royval, delivering a performance worthy of Fight of the Year consideration. Van went on to capture the flyweight championship after then-titleholder Alexandre Pantoja suffered a freak injury just seconds into their initial meeting. Van subsequently defended his belt against Tatsuro Taira before defeating Pantoja in their rematch to solidify his championship reign.

Kape enters the championship contest on the heels of a five-fight winning streak, earning a finish in each of those bouts. A perennial contender since arriving in the UFC, Kape cemented his spot as the division's No. 1 contender in his most recent appearance, dispatching Kyoji Horiguchi with a third-round knockout to secure his shot at the belt.