Manel Kape holds overwhelming market consensus as Joshua Van’s next opponent due to his status as the clear flyweight title contender following Van’s unanimous decision win over Alexandre Pantoja at UFC 331 in September 2026. Kape enters with five straight victories, including four consecutive knockouts capped by a third-round stoppage of Kyoji Horiguchi, positioning him as the division’s most dangerous power puncher and the logical stylistic matchup against the champion. Public exchanges on social media between the fighters have further reinforced expectations for an early 2027 title fight once Van recovers from a pre-UFC 331 shoulder injury. Other names like Brandon Royval remain distant alternatives only if Kape withdraws or faces unforeseen setbacks, as no official bout has been announced and recent form plus rankings leave little room for shifts in the immediate term.