UFC champ Joshua Van issues NSFW callout to Manel Kape, targets "weight" issues

Joshua Van and Manel Kape have partaken in a fiery feud for quite long, and it appears to have reached a crescendo after the former's most recent fight. 

Van notched his second UFC flyweight title defense a few days ago, and he's now issued an NSFW callout to Kape. The latter, who's a former Rizin bantamweight champion, has also fired back after Van's jibe. 

Joshua Van issues an NSFW callout to Manel Kape

Certain sections of the MMA community have often criticized Manel Kape over his past struggles on the scales, noting that he had missed weight for his UFC clash against Ode' Osbourne back in 2021. Some of his critics have even implored him to move up to the UFC bantamweight division. 

Well, Joshua Van seemed to target Kape's weight-cutting issues. Additionally, he made an NSFW jibe at Kape over his physical appearance. The Angolan-Portuguese fighter has, time and again, faced jabs from his detractors over his purported gynecomastia. 

Van took to X and wrote, "Yo fat f**k. Start cutting now cuz u better make weight!! We don't want another weight excuse. Let's give the people wht they want!!! #t**tyboi" 

Yo fat fuck Start cutting now cuz u better make weight !! We don’t want another weight excuse. Let’s give the people wht they want!!! #tittyboi

— Joshua Van (@JoshuaVanBT) September 30, 2026

Manel Kape fires back at Joshua Van by harking back to his KO loss against Charles Johnson

It's noteworthy that both Joshua Van and Manel Kape have accused one another of evading their potential clash. "Starboy" has been adamant that he deserves a title shot this year. Meanwhile, Van defended the flyweight belt via TKO against Tatsuro Taira in May and then by outpointing former champion Alexandre Pantoja in their rematch at UFC 331 on September 19. 

Firing back at Van's aforementioned callout from earlier today, Kape recounted the 24-year-old's last defeat. He harked back to when the Myanmar-born US-based fighter suffered a third-round KO against Charles Johnson back in July of 2024. 

Kape wrote, "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." 

He added, "By the way, the weight I'm putting on is just so I can put you to sleep even earlier than Charles Johnson did."

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. 😴

— Manel Kape (@ManelKape) September 30, 2026

Van, on his part, once again jabbed at Kape's physical appearance by stating, "Hiding? I been here, like I always am. You just too busy shopping for b*a, udk wht been going on." 

The consensus is that Van is likely to defend his UFC flyweight championship against Kape next. The UFC hasn't officially announced a date for the possible matchup as of yet. 

Hiding ?? I been here, like I always am. You just too busy shopping for bra , udk wht been goin on

— Joshua Van (@JoshuaVanBT) September 30, 2026