Manel Kape Passes Pantoja for No. 1 Flyweight Spot

Manel Kape has taken over the No. 1 flyweight ranking from Alexandre Pantoja after Pantoja's title fight loss to Joshua Van at UFC 331 last weekend in Los Angeles.

Pantoja dropped the five round flyweight title fight to Van and fell to No. 2 in the updated rankings, with Kape jumping him at the top of the division. It's a rough stretch for Pantoja, who now sits behind a fighter he has a long running rivalry with in Kape.

What This Means For The Flyweight Division

Joshua Van's win over Pantoja reshuffles the top of the flyweight class, and Kape is the one who benefits most outside the cage. Kape and Van are expected to meet in early 2027, which sets up a de facto No. 1 versus champion matchup once the timing lines up. Brandon Royval holds at No. 3, with Tatsuro Taira right behind him at No. 4, so the division stays stacked directly below the new top two.

Pantoja's slide to No. 2 does not erase his standing as one of the best flyweights in the world, but losing the belt and the top ranking in the same week is a tough combination. His path back into title contention likely runs through the same group of names he has already beaten or shared a ranking with for years.

Betting Angle

A champion losing his ranking spot right after losing the belt is a signal for bettors to watch how sportsbooks price Van going forward. New champions coming off a big five round win often get inflated respect in early lines against ranked contenders, so value hunters should track how Van is priced once a Kape matchup gets closer to being finalized. Pantoja, meanwhile, could be an interesting live dog in a rebound fight given how deep and dangerous he remains even outside the top spot.

Elsewhere on the card, Marlon Vera cracked back into the bantamweight top 15 at No. 12, and Casey O'Neill debuted in the women's flyweight rankings at No. 11, both signs of shifting value further down UFC's ranking boards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Alexandre Pantoja lose his No. 1 ranking?

Alexandre Pantoja lost his flyweight title fight to Joshua Van at UFC 331, and the loss dropped him from No. 1 to No. 2 in the updated flyweight rankings, with Manel Kape moving into the top spot.

Will Manel Kape fight Joshua Van next?

Manel Kape and Joshua Van are expected to meet in early 2027, which would pit the new No. 1 ranked flyweight against the UFC champion.

Who else moved in the UFC rankings after UFC 331?

Marlon Vera returned to the bantamweight rankings at No. 12 and Casey O'Neill debuted at No. 11 among women's flyweights, while Alonzo Menifield and Joanderson Brito also moved closer to the top 10 in their divisions.