Manel Kape says he’ll make Joshua Van fight look ‘easy’

Top-ranked UFC flyweight Manel Kape has thrown down a challenge to champion Joshua Van, claiming the matchup would showcase his striking prowess to devastating effect. Van successfully defended his 125-pound title against Alexandre Pantoja in a rematch at UFC 331 on September 19, keeping alive his undefeated record at 18–2. Kape, riding a four-fight knockout streak after a spectacular comeback finish over Kyoji Horiguchi, is positioning himself as the frontrunner for the next title shot and believes Van's style—built on boxing and striking rather than wrestling—plays directly into his hands. "The perfect style for me to paint a masterpiece," Kape posted on social media. "You're all going to be surprised by how easy I make this fight look." The 23–7 fighter also highlighted a significant weight advantage, noting he could weigh as much as 160 pounds on fight night compared to Van's 145.8, a 14-pound edge that underscores the physical disparity between the two. Van's recent title defenses featured wrestling-heavy opponents—Tatsuro Taira and Pantoja—but Kape's striking acumen presents a starkly different challenge.