Daniel Cormier Identifies Manel Kape as Major Threat to Joshua Van's Title Reign
Daniel Cormier thinks Joshua Van cannot underestimate Manel Kape's striking power if the pairing gets off the ground.
Joshua Van shut down his critics with a spectacular unanimous decision title defense against Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 last Saturday. The 5-round battle showed that 'The Fearless' isn't afraid of anything the division throws at him. However, Daniel Cormier believes Manel Kape might finally break that spell.
Daniel Cormier Backs Manel Kape for a KO Over Van
The No. 1 flyweight contender has recently taken multiple shots at Joshua Van over on X. In fact, Kape believes he can deliver a humiliatingly easy win against the current champion, leaving MMA fans stunned. Turns out, 'Starboy' is not alone in this, with Cormier already predicting an upset.
"The one area that Manel possesses that most don’t is Manel has the power to knock him out. That’s the difference. Manel can knock him out if he gets the opportunity," the UFC great shared in a post-UFC 331 YouTube reaction video.
'DC' believes Van has already proved himself in one sphere: wrestling. With his win over Tatsuro Taira and two wins over the former division kingpin, Van has shown that grappling won't be enough to break his momentum. In fact, despite Pantoja landing 5 takedowns and racking up a total of 10 minutes of ground control time, the Fearless successfully maneuvered through the setbacks to eventually outstrike the Brazilian.
However, one area remains widely uncontested, especially more recently. That's exactly where Kape shines. Only months ago, 'Starboy' knocked out Kyoji Horiguchi in the third round, adding the 4th straight knockout win to his resume. If Kape can keep this rhythm, it's not unlikely that fans will see a new champion.
Manel Kape Appears Fan Favorite as Early Predictions Roll Off
Daniel Cormier might be the biggest voice preferring Manel Kape over Joshua Van, but he's not the only one. While nothing is confirmed yet, speculation is already gripping the MMA fandom, and it's not the flyweight king who seems to be favored.
BetOnline has released early odds for the speculated clash, and Kape holds an advantage at -160. Meanwhile, despite an emphatic show on Saturday, Joshua Van is the +140 underdog. The No. 1 contender has a 61.5 percent chance of winning, with most expecting the fighter to replicate his recent KO triumphs.
With the American fighter currently healing from a shoulder injury that he sustained just a month before his UFC 331 showdown, that anticipated clash will have to wait. Beyond the flyweight title scene, the lightweight and heavyweight divisions also seem to be developing interesting championship storylines after the recent rankings shake-up.
