Manel Kape Calls Out New Flyweight Champ Joshua Van

Joshua Van's unexpected reign as UFC flyweight champion faces an immediate test from surging contender Manel Kape, who issued a bold challenge following his dominant knockout victory over Brandon Royval at UFC Vegas 112 in Las Vegas on Saturday.

Van captured the 125-pound title at UFC 323 earlier this month at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, just 26 seconds into his bout against defending champion Alexandre Pantoja. Pantoja suffered a dislocated shoulder while attempting a takedown, forcing officials to stop the fight and award the belt to Van, a heavy underdog entering the matchup with a 16-2 record. The abrupt end left Van with a bittersweet victory, as he later expressed in a UFC interview. "I don't think that was a real fight," Van said. "I feel like Pantoja does deserve a rematch. Bittersweet. He is the greatest of all time in my eyes, and I really want to feel what he is like in the cage."

Kape, entering UFC Vegas 112 with a three-fight finishing streak, wasted no time positioning himself as the division's top threat. The 32-year-old Angolan-Portuguese fighter, now 22-7 overall, knocked out Royval, the former No. 1 contender, in the opening round with a precise striking...