UFC flyweight contender Manel Kape made a bold statement at a joint press conference held at the Infosys Theater in New York City.
As noted by “NY Fights”, the event was held to promote upcoming cards including UFC 335 and the January 30 UFC 336 event in Toronto.
During the session, Kape took advantage of the empty podium assigned to champion Joshua Van, who was absent due to travel complications.
Kape approached the table, picked up the championship belt, and draped it over his shoulder while addressing UFC President Dana White.
The challenger mocked the champion’s absence by asking, “Dana, what the f**k! You forget the address for the school bus? Where is my son?”
This interaction was captured during a “joint kickoff press conference” that featured eight athletes scheduled for the upcoming fight cards.
Van eventually arrived at the venue following the face-offs and successfully reclaimed his title from Kape.
The champion explained his tardiness via social media, stating, “Thx God we gon Make it to press conference. After we miss a couple of flights.”
Van has maintained his position as champion since winning the vacant title last December, securing two successful defenses against Tatsuro Taira and Alexandre Pantoja, according to “NY Fights”.
The upcoming bout at UFC 336 marks the first title defense for Van in 2027.
Kape enters the matchup riding a four-fight finishing streak, which has intensified the rivalry between the two competitors.
The promotion expects the January event in Toronto to serve as a major milestone for the organization as it returns to the city for a numbered event.
The antics displayed in New York City have further elevated public interest in the flyweight championship clash.