Top 3 Contenders for Joshua Van's UFC Title After His Latest Victory

Sports admin September 22, 2026 0 Comments

Top 3 Contenders for Joshua Van’s UFC Title After His Latest Victory

Joshua Van’s second UFC flyweight title defense has changed the championship picture at 125 pounds, with the champion now looking toward a new group of contenders after settling his rivalry with Alexandre Pantoja.

Van defeated Pantoja by unanimous decision at UFC 331 on September 19, successfully defending the belt and extending his professional record to 18-2. The victory followed his fifth-round TKO of Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328 and gave Van another major win over a former champion.

With Pantoja coming off a second consecutive loss to Van, the division needs a new challenger to emerge.

Manel Kape, Brandon Royval and Asu Almabayev are three of the leading names in the current flyweight mix based on UFC rankings, recent performances and previous UFC competition.

Manel Kape Has Built a Strong Case

Manel Kape currently sits at No. 2 in the UFC flyweight rankings, making him the highest-ranked contender behind Pantoja.

The Angolan fighter is 23-7 and has won eight of his last nine fights, with his most recent victory coming against Kyoji Horiguchi at UFC Vegas 119 on June 20.

MANEL KAPE JUST KNOCKED OUT KYOJI HORIGUCHI!!!

WOWWWW #UFCVegas119pic.twitter.com/FcSaZegFyA

— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) June 21, 2026

Kape stopped Horiguchi with strikes at 2:42 of the third round, adding another significant finish to a recent run that also includes victories over Royval and Almabayev.

He knocked out Royval in the first round in December 2025 after previously stopping Almabayev in the third round in March 2025.

Kape’s UFC statistics also demonstrate why he remains one of the division’s most dangerous contenders. He averages 4.68 significant strikes landed per minute, while his UFC profile lists a 57% significant-strike defense, 79% takedown defense, and 15 career knockouts.

Brandon Royval Stays in the Mix

Brandon Royval is currently ranked No. 3 at flyweight and has already fought Van, giving him direct experience against the reigning champion.

Their June 2025 matchup went the distance, with Van earning a unanimous decision victory over Royval, but the competitive and action-packed nature of their three-round fight makes me crave a full five-round fight between the two.

Royval subsequently lost to Kape by first-round knockout in December 2025, leaving him with consecutive defeats against two of the division’s current top contenders.

However, the “Raw Dawg” rebounded at UFC 329 in a Fight of the Night performance, submitting Lone’er Kavanagh with a rear-naked choke in the third round. That victory was important because it stopped Royval from slipping further down the rankings after the losses to Van and Kape.

BRANDON ROYVAL IS A REAL DAWG 🦴

He gets the 3rd round submission to remain in the Top 5!

[ #UFC329 | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/fTWrE5mq4E

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) July 12, 2026

Royval also brings a resume that includes wins over former champion Brandon Moreno and Van’s first title challenger, Tatsuro Taira.

The biggest question surrounding another Royval title opportunity is whether his recent win is enough to overcome his previous losses. His ranking and experience keep him in the conversation, but another high-level victory would provide a clearer path toward a third UFC flyweight title fight.

Asu Almabayev Is the Rising Contender

Asu Almabayev currently occupies the No. 5 spot in the UFC flyweight rankings, putting him farther from an immediate title opportunity than Kape or Royval.

His recent record, however, makes him one of the division’s more interesting contenders, particularly after consecutive submission victories.

Almabayev submitted Alex Perez with a guillotine choke in November 2025.

ASU ALMABAYEV STANDING GUILLOTINE 🤯 #UFCQATARpic.twitter.com/KlmQuzRucX

— ESPN MMA (@espnmma) November 22, 2025

He then defeated Charles Johnson via Suloev stretch at 3:33 of the third round of their fight in June 2026. That particular win is notable as Johnson is the only man to defeat Van in the UFC.

A SULOEV STRETCH SUBMISSION???!! 🤯

Asu Almabayev just earned a RARE submission victory!

[ #UFCBaku | LIVE ON @ParamountPlus ] pic.twitter.com/wDHjU7hhbv

— UFC on Paramount+ (@UFConParamount) June 27, 2026

The two victories followed a loss to Kape in March 2025, which remains Almabayev’s only UFC defeat.

According to his official UFC profile and statistics, Almabayev has recorded 11 submission victories and averages 4.74 takedowns per 15 minutes, giving him a substantially different style from the primarily striking-based approaches of Royval and Kape.

With Royval calling him out directly, Almabayev has a clear opportunity to climb into title challenger position with another high-profile victory. His combination of wrestling and submission ability also gives the division a different stylistic challenge from the faster, striking-oriented contenders near the top.

Van’s Next Title Picture Is Taking Shape

Van’s victory over Pantoja removes one of the division’s biggest immediate questions, but it also opens the door for the next wave of challengers.

Kape has the most direct momentum of the three, having won his last three fights against Almabayev, Royval, and Horiguchi. Royval has the advantage of having already fought Van and owning notable wins elsewhere in the division, while Almabayev has the opportunity to build his case through his recent submission streak.

Additionally, a potential match between Tatsuro Taira and Alexandre Pantoja could keep the flyweight rankings interesting. Both may have lost to Van, but their high-level grappling skill sets and ranking spots could make for an interesting contender match.

The next championship fight in the talented flyweight division that ultimately emerges will depend on the UFC’s matchmaking and the division’s results in the coming months.

For now, Kape, Royval, and Almabayev are three fighters with established paths toward a shot at Van’s 125-pound championship, with each contender bringing a different resume and skill set into the equation.

It will be easier said than done, however, as Van’s performance at UFC 331 answered important questions about the champion’s durability, gas tank, and will to win, all of which the 24-year-old champion has in spades.

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This story was originally published September 22, 2026 at 1:58 AM.