Brandon Royval has confirmed he will serve as the official backup fighter for the upcoming flyweight title bout at UFC 336. The event is scheduled for January 30 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, featuring champion Joshua Van defending his title against challenger Manel Kape.
Preparing for the Opportunity
Royval, who holds an 18-9 record, announced his role during an appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show.” He noted that he is currently preparing his body for the weight cut to ensure he is ready to step in should either Van or Kape be unable to compete. Regarding the matchup, Royval suggested that the outcome depends on the duration of the fight, stating, “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.”
Navigating the Flyweight Division
The former title challenger finds himself in a difficult position within the division, having previously suffered losses to both Van and Kape. However, he recently secured a submission victory over Lone’er Kavanagh, keeping him relevant in the title picture. Royval explained that he is currently in a “weird situation” where he has defeated most of the contenders ranked behind him, while those ahead of him have previously bested him.
Royval expressed frustration regarding recent injuries that have sidelined him, noting that he had hoped to face Asu Almabayev. Despite these setbacks, he views the backup role as a strategic move. “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 said. He added that the role allows him to remain in the title conversation while providing an opportunity to study both the champion and the contender closely.
