Manel Kape’s strong positioning as the clear number-one contender in the UFC flyweight division drives the overwhelming market consensus for a matchup against champion Joshua Van. Fresh off a four-fight win streak that includes stoppage victories over Brandon Royval and Kyoji Horiguchi, Kape has repeatedly confirmed in recent interviews that he expects the title shot next, with a January 2027 window emerging as the likely timeline after Van’s defenses against Alexandre Pantoja and Tatsuro Taira. The pair’s longstanding public exchanges and the division’s hierarchy reinforce this as the natural progression. An injury to either fighter, an unexpected interim bout for Van, or a sudden rise by another ranked contender could still shift the outlook before any official announcement.