Manel Kape Breaks Silence on Joshua Van’s UFC 328 Rise With Chilling 'Allah’s Time' Message

Manel Kape and Joshua Van (Image Credits: Imagn)

Manel Kape Breaks Silence on Joshua Van’s UFC 328 Rise With Chilling 'Allah’s Time' Message

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Sarthak Khanna | Last updated May 11, 2026 3:18 AM ET

Joshua Van’s quick rise in the UFC world does not sit well with many fighters, especially after his performance at UFC 328. Shortly after Van’s massive win over Tatsuro Taira at UFC 328, Manel Kape took to social media to congratulate the young champion while also addressing the criticism and jealousy surrounding him.

Kape wrote that many fighters have been “hating” on Van because they cannot handle seeing another athlete succeed. He praised the 24-year-old for capitalizing on the moment that originally opened up because of Kape’s own injury setback. The rivalry between the two has quietly been building for months after Kape withdrew from a scheduled fight with Brandon Royval due to a broken foot. His moving out of a second fight against Royval allowed Van to step in to replace him.

Praising Van’s accomplishments, Manel Kape wrote, “Big props to Joshua for the achievement. A lot of people and fighters have been hating on him, and the only answer I can find is jealousy. Many fighters can’t handle the success of others, and that’s exactly why they’ll never truly succeed themselves.”

Big props to Joshua for the achievement. A lot of people and fighters have been hating on him, and the only answer I can find is jealousy. Many fighters can’t handle the success of others, and that’s exactly why they’ll never truly succeed themselves.

The journey started when he… https://t.co/bIRwVY20Br
— Manel Kape (@ManelKape) May 11, 2026

At UFC 328, Van further strengthened his reputation after scoring a dramatic fifth-round stoppage victory over Taira in what many fans considered one of the best fights of the year.

Manel Kape Promises Revenge Against Joshua Van

While Kape’s initial message focused heavily on respect, the ending of his statement made it clear that he still sees himself as the rightful man to sit at the top of the flyweight division.

After congratulating Van, Kape sent a direct warning to the champion, writing, “But I’ll see you soon, and I’ll take back what is mine. Not on my time… on Allah’s time.”

Manel Kape and Joshua Van (Photo by Imagn Images)

The message immediately caught attention across the MMA community. Kape has already built a reputation for intense callouts toward Van in the past, previously describing himself as the champion’s “worst nightmare.”

With Van now holding momentum after another major win and Kape still pushing for a title opportunity, the UFC may finally have one of the biggest flyweight matchups available for later this year.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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