UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van is hearing it from one of the division’s top contenders just weeks after his UFC 323 title win.
Joshua Van capped off his historic run up the UFC flyweight rankings with a title win at UFC 323 over Alexandre Pantoja. Just seconds into their fight, Pantoja suffered an injury after being taken to the canvas during a grappling exchange, forcing the referee to step in and wave off the fight.
Despite an immediate rematch with Pantoja warranted, Van could potentially face another top contender for his first title defense as Pantoja continues to recover from his injury. This opens the door to the likes of Manel Kape, Brandon Moreno, and Tatsuro Taira to potentially be Van’s next opponent.
If Kape gets his shot against Van in the coming months, he’s expecting the fight to look like a crime scene.
Manel Kape: UFC protecting Joshua Van ‘from murder’
In a recent post to X, Kape taunted the reigning UFC flyweight champ.
“Just the thought of it gives me chills,” Kape said of fighting Van.
“They’re literally protecting you from a murder that could happen alive.”
Kape has every reason to be confident as he awaits his next UFC assignment. The rising contender most recently finished former title challenger Brandon Royval in December, just days after Van’s title win.
Kape and Van have traded barbs on social media in recent weeks as the UFC matchmakers decide how they’ll schedule the Top 5 flyweights in the division. The two flyweights hold two of the longest winning streaks in the division, with Van earning six consecutive victories.
As of this writing, it’s uncertain when Pantoja will return to the Octagon after his UFC 323 injury. Once he’s medically cleared to return, he’ll likely earn an immediate title shot against the reigning champion.
In the meantime, Kape vs. Van could make a lot of sense for the next flyweight title bout and promises nonstop action for as long as the fight lasts.
What is your prediction for a potential Joshua Van vs. Manel Kape booking? Let us know in the comments!