Flyweight champion Joshua Van to defend title against Kape at UFC 336 in Toronto

UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van will defend his title against Manel Kape at UFC 336, scheduled for January 30 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. The matchup was announced during the UFC 333 broadcast on Saturday.

Van’s rise to the top of the flyweight division has been rapid. The 25-year-old first made his mark by accepting a short-notice fight against Brandon Royval, delivering a performance widely regarded as Fight of the Year quality. He then claimed the flyweight belt after then-champion Alexandre Pantoja suffered a freak injury seconds into their bout.

Van has since proven the title was no fluke. He defended it with a victory over Tatsuro Taira before defeating Pantoja again in a rematch, cementing his status as the division’s legitimate ruler.

Kape arrives as a dangerous challenger. The contender has been a fixture near the top of the flyweight rankings since joining the UFC, and he enters this fight on a five-fight winning streak — with a finish in every single one of those contests. His most recent outing saw him stop Kyoji Horiguchi by third-round knockout, a result that secured him the No. 1 contender spot and, now, a shot at the title.

The co-main event adds further weight to the card, with Carlos Prates and Michael Morales set to collide for the interim welterweight title.