Manel Kape praises Joshua Van, eyes future title shot

Manel Kape is giving Joshua Van his flowers. 

Van (17-2) put his flyweight title on the line against Tatsuro Taira in the co-main event at UFC 328 on Saturday in Newark, New Jersey. “The Fearless” showed excellent takedown defense while picking Taira apart on the feet en route to a fifth-round stoppage win. Many had refused to consider Van a legitimate champion after he won the title against Alexandre Pantoja due to an injury last year. 

As Van left no doubt in his first title defense, Kape took a shot at the champion’s haters. Kape believes the only reason fellow flyweights slammed Van is jealousy. Kape congratulated Van on his win over Taira. 

Kape further noted that he had an involuntary role to play in Van’s rise to title contention. Kape and Brandon Royval were originally scheduled to fight in 2025, before Royval pulled out due to an injury. While the matchup was postponed to UFC 317 in June, this time, Kape was forced out with an injury. Van replaced Kape on three weeks’ notice and defeated Royval to earn a title shot against Pantoja. Meanwhile, Kape (22-7) is riding a three-fight finishing streak. “Starboy” is scheduled to fight fellow flyweight contender Kyoji Horiguchi (36-5) at a UFC Fight Night on June 20 in Las Vegas. Kape hopes to challenge Van for the title in the near future.

A Message to the Haters

“Big props to Joshua for the achievement,” Kape wrote on X. “A lot of people and fighters have been hating on him, and the only answer I can find is jealousy. Many fighters can’t handle the success of others, and that’s exactly why they’ll never truly succeed themselves. The journey started when he took the opportunity after I broke my foot he stepped in and beat Royval. Congrats to the young man. But I’ll see you soon, and I’ll take back what is mine. Not on my time… on Allah’s time.”