Lone'er Kavanagh Backs Joshua Van, Eyes UFC 336 Winner Next

Lone'er Kavanagh has made his pick for the flyweight main event, and it's the champion. He's backing Joshua Van to get past Manel Kape at UFC 336, and he's not shy about why: after two wins over Alexandre Pantoja, Van's 18-2 record speaks loudly enough that betting against him feels like a bad idea.

Kavanagh said he was genuinely surprised by how complete Van looked in that rivalry. By his read, the champion had an answer for everything Pantoja brought — and that's no small compliment given Pantoja's pedigree. Van's output, Kavanagh added, is the part that stands out most: relentless volume that makes him a nightmare to share a cage with.

Why Van Keeps Winning

The numbers back the praise. Van carries nine knockouts and two submissions across his 18 wins, but his calling card isn't one highlight finish — it's the pace. He outworked Pantoja by decision the second time around, the kind of result that rewards cardio and pressure over a single big swing. For a 125-pounder, that sustained output is exactly what separates a contender from a champion.

The Kape Problem

Kape won't make it easy. He's the fight standing between Van and whatever comes next, and Kavanagh knows it — which is precisely why he's keeping an eye on the result rather than just the champion. The UFC 336 headliner is the gatekeeper to the whole division right now.

And that division, in Kavanagh's view, is the best show in the promotion. He flat-out called flyweight the most exciting division in the UFC, pointing to Van as the engine driving that reputation. Fun to watch, impossible to tire out, and sitting on a two-fight head start against the man he dethroned.

Kavanagh's own play is simple. He wants the winner of Van vs. Kape, positioning himself as the next in line regardless of who walks out with the belt. It's a clean pitch: back the champ publicly, then book yourself a date with whoever holds the gold after UFC 336.