Manel Kape compares Joshua Van fight to Silva-Griffin KO
The flyweight contender says the champion will be slow and promises the title fight, expected for January, will be “too easy”
Manel Kape, the top contender for the UFC flyweight title, told Daniel Cormier that his fight with champion Joshua Van will look like Anderson Silva’s knockout of Forrest Griffin. The interview made the rounds on Friday, Oct. 16. The title fight has not been officially announced, but it is expected for January 2027.
Kape did not hold back. According to the transcript published by Sherdog, he said Van will look slow in front of him, down to the way he throws punches, and insisted the fight will be too easy.
The Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin comparison
Kape picked one of the most famous nights of Anderson Silva’s career. At UFC 101, in August 2009 in Philadelphia, the Brazilian moved up to light heavyweight and knocked out Forrest Griffin in the first round, slipping the American’s punches before dropping him with a counter.
“This fight is going to be like Anderson Silva against Forrest Griffin,” Kape told Cormier. He then apologized to the former champion, saying he loves Griffin, but stood by the prediction. “When I say this fight is going to be too easy, it’s going to be too easy.”
Kape also ranked his last opponent, Kyoji Horiguchi, above the champion. “If it was Van against Kyoji, Kyoji would put him to sleep in the first round,” he said. In his view, the Japanese veteran is the toughest fighter in the division, and beating his karate style takes strategy.
Kape’s history with Kyoji Horiguchi
The confidence comes from a recent result. On June 20, at UFC Vegas 119 in Las Vegas, Kape knocked out Horiguchi at 2:42 of the third round, coming from behind after trailing for much of the fight. It was his fourth straight win without going to the judges.
It was also a rematch, and the first chapter was decided by grappling. On Dec. 31, 2017, in the semifinals of the Rizin Grand Prix in Japan, Horiguchi took Kape down, worked from top position and finished him with an arm-triangle choke in the third round. The June knockout evened the score.
Kape has been calling his shot for a while. In 2024 he said he was the only flyweight who could dethrone Alexandre Pantoja. In the end, it was Joshua Van who took the belt from the Brazilian.
How Joshua Van got the belt
Van, 24, is the first UFC champion from Myanmar. He won the title in December 2025, when Pantoja dislocated his elbow 26 seconds into their fight.
He has defended it twice since. In May, at UFC 328, he stopped Tatsuro Taira in the fifth round. On Sept. 19, at UFC 331 in Los Angeles, he beat Pantoja by unanimous decision in the rematch, as the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt chased takedowns but lost the striking battle.
Title talk is heating up across the UFC. In the women’s flyweight division, Erin Blanchfield and Jasmine Jasudavicius meet in a title eliminator in Edmonton, and at welterweight, Charles Oliveira believes Carlos Prates can beat Islam Makhachev.
When Van vs. Kape could happen
Kape said he believes the fight will happen in January and called December too early. The UFC has not confirmed a date or venue. Until then, the challenger is doing the talking, and the champion will have to answer in the Octagon.
What do you think: is Manel Kape right that he will take the belt from Joshua Van with ease, or will the champion shut him up? Let us know in the comments.
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