Former UFC Fighters Compete Across Combat Sports
Former UFC fighters appeared on two different combat-sports cards over the Aug. 16–17, 2024, weekend: the Professional Fighters League’s MMA playoffs and a Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship event in Kansas City. Among the veterans in action, Impa Kasanganay advanced in the PFL and Jake Lindsey won the BKFC main event.
Kasanganay moved on in the PFL playoffs
At PFL 8 in Hollywood, Florida, former UFC middleweight Impa Kasanganay met Josh Silveira in a light-heavyweight semifinal. The fight was a rematch of their 2023 PFL championship bout. This time, the contest went the distance, with Kasanganay earning a unanimous decision and a place in the 2024 tournament final. His win kept him in contention for the league’s $1 million prize.
Another former UFC competitor, Rob Wilkinson, lost a unanimous decision to Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov in the other light-heavyweight semifinal. The PFL card also featured former UFC lightweight Clay Collard, who lost a decision to Brent Primus. These results show that moving between promotions can mean facing a different tournament format, but the fights remain standard mixed martial arts.
Lindsey won in bare-knuckle boxing
BKFC Fight Night Kansas City took place the same evening at Memorial Hall. Former UFC fighter Jake Lindsey faced former BKFC welterweight champion Elvin Brito in the main event. Lindsey won by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 49–46. Unlike the PFL bouts, this contest was bare-knuckle boxing, governed by a different ruleset and fought without MMA grappling.
The weekend offered a clear example of how former UFC athletes continue competing in other promotions. Kasanganay, Wilkinson and Collard remained active in MMA, while Lindsey pursued a bare-knuckle boxing bout. Their results were mixed: one tournament finalist advanced, two PFL veterans lost, and Lindsey earned a decision win.
Sources
- MMA Fighting: PFL 8 results and Kasanganay’s semifinal win
- Cageside Press: BKFC Kansas City results
- FIGHTMAG: Lindsey defeats Brito by unanimous decision
- MMA Junkie via Yahoo Sports: weekend UFC-veteran schedule
Tags: Boxing
