Manel Kape takes aim at Joshua Van ahead of potential title fight: ‘He’s my kid and I can’t wait to take his diaper’

Manel Kape made history at UFC Vegas 119, recording his sixth flyweight knockout to set the UFC record for most knockouts in the division. The victory over Kyoji Horiguchi marked a redemption arc for Kape, who avenged a loss to Horiguchi dating back to their 2017 meeting in RIZIN. "Starboy" delivered emphatically, extending his knockout streak to four consecutive wins and positioning himself as a legitimate contender for UFC flyweight gold.

At the post-fight press conference, Kape reflected on his evolution as a fighter and his journey to reclaim momentum after an injury had derailed his title aspirations. "When I was younger, I was wild. I was fearless," Kape explained. "This time I have to slow down, be more smart. Time gives you wisdom." He acknowledged that his breakthrough knockout of Brandon Royval—which impressed more than reigning champion Joshua Van's narrow victory over the same opponent—had strengthened his resume and credentials for a title shot.

Kape did not mince words about Van, dismissing the champion's accomplishments and offering a provocative prediction. "He's my kid and I can't wait to take his diaper," Kape said, expressing confidence he would knock out Van just as decisively as he has handled his recent opponents. Despite the pointed rhetoric, Kape framed the rivalry as professional rather than personal, asserting that his performance record spoke louder than any war of words.

The pathway to a title opportunity remains somewhat uncertain. Former champion Alexandre Pantoja, who lost the belt to Van due to a freak injury in their first round, is recovering and could claim the next shot. Kape acknowledged this possibility without frustration, indicating he would welcome a period of rest while the promotion sorts out its heavyweight contender picture. With designs on eventually surpassing Derrick Lewis's all-time UFC knockout record, Kape's confidence in his finishing ability was unshaken.