Manel Kape holds a dominant 92% implied probability in the market for Joshua Van’s next flyweight bout due to his status as the clear top contender following Van’s unanimous-decision title defense over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 on September 19. Kape enters on a five-fight win streak featuring four consecutive knockouts or TKOs, including recent victories over Asu Almabayev, Brandon Royval, and Kyoji Horiguchi, positioning him as the highest-ranked available challenger with the power and striking volume to test the champion’s chin. Analysts and matchmakers across credible outlets consistently identify the matchup as the most compelling and logical next step, with Kape publicly calling out Van and expressing confidence in a finish. Van’s recent shoulder injury and the division’s depth leave room for shifts if Kape suffers a setback or the UFC opts for a rematch with Royval or another ranked contender.