UFC flyweight champion Joshua Van, who fought less than two weeks ago, has already started taunting the contender presumed to be his next challenger. On Wednesday, Van (with an 18-2 MMA record and 11-1 in the UFC) zeroed in on Manel Kape, stirring things up even though Kape hadn’t yet responded.
Van took to X, writing, “Yo fat f*ck, start cutting now cuz u better make weight !! We don’t want another weight excuse. Let’s give the people wht they want!!!” UFC heavyweight Steven Asplund humorously chimed in, despite not being the target, admitting, “Damn Josh my bad.”
Shortly afterward, Kape (23-7 MMA, 8-3 UFC) fired back without hesitation, reviving his diaper-themed jabs from a previous trash talk session following a December 2025 win over Brandon Royval. He posted on X, “Finally came out of hiding, son? They told me you weren’t sure about facing your dad, but I guess there’s nowhere left to run. I promised I’d change your diapers, & I always keep my word. By the way, the weight I’m putting on is just so I can put you to sleep even earlier than Charles Johnson did.”
Van responded quickly, “Hiding?? I been here, like I always am. You just too busy shopping for bra, udk wht been goin on.” Not missing a beat, Kape retorted, “The only things I’ve been shopping for are diapers & your health insurance. Trust me, you’re gonna need both. And like a good father, I’m making sure everything’s taken care of in advance.”
Van then questioned Kape’s fixation on diapers with, “Wht with your obsession With diapers. Make me wonder #tittyboi.”
Neither fighter is currently scheduled for a bout. Van, 24, recently secured his second UFC flyweight title defense by defeating Alexandre Pantoja again on September 19 at UFC 331. Meanwhile, Kape, 32, is ranked No. 1 in the Meta UFC rankings and No. 2 in the UFC media rankings. He’s on a four-fight winning streak, including a June knockout of Kyoji Horiguchi, making him the likely next contender for Van’s belt.
Fan Take: This heated exchange adds a spicy, personal edge to what could be one of the most anticipated flyweight showdowns. For fight fans, the buildup amps up the drama and stakes, promising an intense and memorable clash that could elevate the division’s profile.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
