Fresh off his UFC 323 championship victory, newly crowned UFC flyweight king Joshua Van is attracting significant attention from a prominent challenger within the weight class.
Joshua Van concluded his remarkable ascent through the UFC flyweight standings by securing the championship at UFC 323 against Alexandre Pantoja. Merely moments into their contest, Pantoja sustained an injury after being brought to the mat during a ground-based confrontation, compelling the official to intervene and halt the bout.
While an immediate rematch with Pantoja appears justified, Van might instead encounter a different elite challenger for his inaugural title defense, given Pantoja’s ongoing recuperation from his injury. This situation presents an opportunity for individuals such as Manel Kape, Brandon Moreno, and Tatsuro Taira to potentially step in as Van’s subsequent adversary.
Should Kape be granted his opportunity against Van in the near future, he anticipates the bout unfolding as an absolute massacre.
Manel Kape: The UFC is shielding Joshua Van ‘from being murdered’
Through a recent update on X, Kape openly provoked the current UFC flyweight titleholder.
“Merely conceiving of it sends shivers down my spine,” Kape remarked concerning a confrontation with Van.
“They are quite literally shielding you from a homicide that could transpire while you are still conscious.”
Kape possesses ample grounds for assurance while awaiting his subsequent UFC engagement. This ascendant competitor recently concluded a bout against former title contender Brandon Royval in December, occurring only a few days following Van’s championship triumph.
Kape and Van have exchanged sharp words across social platforms over recent weeks, as the UFC’s fight organizers deliberate on how to arrange the schedule for the division’s Top 5 flyweight athletes. These two combatants boast some of the most extended winning streaks in the category, with Van having accumulated six successive wins.
Currently, the precise date of Pantoja’s return to the Octagon following his UFC 323 injury remains undetermined. Upon receiving medical authorization to compete again, he will most probably secure an instant championship opportunity against the current titleholder.
Meanwhile, a contest between Kape and Van appears to be a highly logical choice for the upcoming flyweight championship encounter and guarantees continuous excitement for the entire duration of the fight.
What are your thoughts on a prospective Joshua Van versus Manel Kape matchup? Share your insights below!
