Manel Kape Calls Out Joshua Van For UFC 326 Fight<\/p>\n
Preceding a post where Van openly questioned if the UFC plans to keep him sidelined for the entire year<\/a>, the UFC flyweight champion proposed both Kape and #3-ranked Tatsuro Taira<\/a> as options for his first title defense. <\/p>\n Manel\u2026!???? Taira \u2026!???? \u2014 Joshua Van (@JoshuaVanBT) February 11, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n “Manel [Kape]…!???? [Tatsuro] Taira …!????”<\/p>\n READ MORE: UFC Fighter Reveals Brutal Injury Suffered Just 15 Seconds Into First Career Loss<\/a><\/p>\n Kape was happy to jump at the opportunity to engage with Van<\/a>, even going so far as to suggest that the two men should meet at the upcoming UFC 326 card that\u2019s scheduled to take place in Las Vegas on March 7. <\/p>\n We\u2019re all waiting for u to sign for March 7th. What\u2019s the delay? Pen out of ink or hands shaking? https:\/\/t.co\/sRNqDMeOQT<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Manel Kape (@ManelKape) February 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n “We\u2019re all waiting for u to sign for March 7th. What\u2019s the delay? Pen out of ink or hands shaking?”<\/p>\n UFC 327 is headlined by a highly-anticipated rematch <\/a>between Max Holloway and Charles Oliveira, with Holloway\u2019s \u201cBMF\u201d title on the line. That matchup is the only \u201ctitle\u201d bout currently on the UFC\u2019s 2026 calendar, as no main event has been announced for the upcoming UFC 327 card in Miami <\/a>on April 11. <\/p>\n UFC Could Be Waiting for Van vs. Pantoja Rematch<\/p>\n The first two numbered UFC events of the year both featured one title fight each (although UFC 324 did lose a planned co-main event <\/a>between Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes), and Van appears to be the reigning UFC champion that\u2019s most interested in stepping up for one of the promotion\u2019s upcoming cards.<\/p>\n READ MORE: Pivotal UFC Contender Fight Booked for First UFC Ottawa Card in Nearly 7 Years<\/a><\/p>\n Given the anticlimactic way that things ended at UFC 323, the UFC may be waiting to see how soon Pantoja is able to return for what would be an immediate rematch with Van. \u201cThe Cannibal\u201d certainly earned the opportunity to reclaim his belt with a dominant title reign, and it didn\u2019t take long after injuring his arm before Pantoja returned to the gym<\/a>. <\/p>\n Alexandre Pantoja (red gloves) reacts after breaking an arm against Joshua Van (blue gloves) during UFC 323 at T-Mobile Arena. | Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images<\/p>\n Kape appears to be next in line behind Pantoja for a flyweight title shot after he stopped Brandon Royval in the final UFC fight of 2025, but Taira also has a solid case for his own crack at UFC gold after stopping the formerly-undefeated Hyun Sung Park and two-time flyweight titleholder Brandon Moreno last year. <\/p>\n More MMA Knockout News<\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0UFC Shockingly Cuts Top-Ranked Heavyweight Star After UFC Fight Night Loss<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a010-Year UFC Veteran Included With 3 Fighters Axed From Official UFC Roster<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0Ex-UFC Superstar Promises MMA Fans “I’ll See You Soon” in Cryptic Return Tease<\/a><\/p>\n \u2022\u00a0UFC Fight Night Adds Fan-Friendly Bout Featuring Highly-Anticipated UFC Debut<\/a><\/p>\n Stick with\u00a0MMAKnockout<\/a>\u00a0for more FREE coverage of the UFC and MMA.<\/p>\n Follow MMAKnockout on\u00a0Facebook<\/a>,\u00a0Twitter<\/a>, and\u00a0Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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