Kasanganay’s 2024 PFL Championship Run Ends in Final
Impa Kasanganay entered the 2024 PFL World Championship with a chance to defend the light heavyweight title he had won the previous season. His run to the final included a comeback TKO of Jakob Nedoh, a unanimous decision over Josh Silveira in the playoffs, and a hard-fought season in one of the promotion’s deepest divisions. The championship bout ultimately took a sharp turn: Dovlet Yagshimuradov knocked Kasanganay out 58 seconds into the first round on November 29, 2024, as detailed in the PFL’s official fight report.
A title run and a sudden reversal
Kasanganay had arrived at the 2024 final after wins over Alex Polizzi and Nedoh in the regular season, then a playoff victory against Silveira. Earlier that year, he also met Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen in a PFL-versus-Bellator champion bout, losing a split decision after a competitive three rounds, according to the PFL’s official recap. The loss to Yagshimuradov ended his bid to become a two-time PFL light heavyweight tournament champion, but it did not end his run in the promotion.
A move to middleweight in 2025
Kasanganay dropped to middleweight for the 2025 PFL World Tournament. Fabian Edwards stopped him in the first round of their April matchup, eliminating him from the tournament bracket. He returned in August against Andrew Sanchez and rallied to win by TKO at 4:31 of the third round. That finish gave Kasanganay a strong close to a difficult tournament season, even though he was no longer in contention for the title. The PFL’s report on the Edwards fight and its 2025 finals results document both bouts.
2026: a knockout win and an Eblen rematch
In March 2026, Kasanganay knocked out Dalton Rosta in the first round at PFL Pittsburgh, earning another high-profile middleweight opportunity. He faced Eblen again in July for the interim PFL middleweight championship. This time Eblen won by knockout at 2:39 of round three, leaving Kasanganay with a 20–7 record after the bout. The PFL Pittsburgh results and PFL Austin results confirm the finishes and title stakes. The rematch brought their rivalry back to the title picture, but Eblen remained the one to beat.
Where his journey stands
Kasanganay’s story in the PFL has included a championship breakthrough, a title defense that ended abruptly, and repeated efforts to rebuild momentum across divisions. His 2026 knockout of Rosta showed his finishing ability remained a threat, while the Eblen loss marked another setback against an elite opponent. The next chapter will depend on what Kasanganay chooses to pursue after a demanding stretch at middleweight.
Sources
Tags: MMA, Combat Sports
