UFC flyweight star Manel Kape faced a devastating blow just weeks before his highly anticipated return at UFC 317, where he was set to battle former title challenger Brandon Royval.

Both fighters were eager to prove themselves in a No. 1 contender match, aiming for a shot at the championship currently held by Alexandre Pantoja. However, tragedy struck during Kape's training as he suffered a severe injury.

During a sparring session at Xtreme Couture, Kape sustained a broken right foot, forcing him to withdraw from the fight—a major setback in his quest for the title.

In an emotional Instagram announcement, Kape revealed, "I suffered a foot fracture during training and after medical evaluation, I was instructed to have surgery and focus 100% on recovery." He expressed his frustration, stating that stepping away from this fight, which he viewed as pivotal in his career, is not easy but he remains hopeful and determined.

Accompanying his message, Kape shared gruesome footage of the incident, capturing the moment his foot was injured. You can distinctly hear the 'crunch' as he delivers a powerful kick, a sound that fans won't forget.

As Kape begins his recovery, the uncertainty of his return timeline looms—it marks the 11th time his fights have been canceled since joining the UFC.

Despite this setback, Kape has shown resilience with impressive wins following a previous loss to Muhammad Mokaev at UFC 304. He knocked out Bruno Silva at UFC Tampa and secured a win over Asu Almabayev.

Now, in a twist of fate, Joshua Van has stepped in to replace Kape and will face Brandon Royval at UFC 317. The 23-year-old Van made headlines last weekend by knocking out Silva, adding to his winning streak. As the first fighter from Myanmar in UFC history, his journey is one to watch.

A victory over Royval could catapult Van into a title shot against the winner of the anticipated matchup between Pantoja and Kai Kara-France, making this a crucial moment in his career.