Making his professional MMA debut in January 2019, Impa Kasaganay made an early name for himself with eight straight victories to start his career. After some struggles over his next four fights, however, Kasaganay moved up to light heavyweight upon taking an opportunity with the PFL. From there, Kasaganay never looked back and became one of the best comeback stories of 2023. After earning a PFL contract on the Challenger Series with a first-round finish of Osama ElSeady, Kasaganay, a striking specialist, defeated Cory Hendricks, Tim Caron, Marthin Hamlet and Joshua Silveira to become the 2023 PFL light heavyweight champion. Now, he returns to 185 for another huge matchup as a PFL representative in an interpromotional showdown.

 

After a successful run in college wrestling at the University of Missouri, Johnny Eblen made his professional MMA debut in 2017. Four fights, four wins and two years later, Eblen signed with Bellator and racked up another 10 wins. Eblen defeated Gegard Mousasi at Bellator 282 in June 2022 to become Bellator middleweight champion and has since retained the title against Anatoly Tokov and Fabian Edwards.

 

Who will walk away with the special super belt and championship ring, as well as the bragging rights for their home promotion, in this champion vs. champion battle?

 

 

Round 1

 

Eblen with a couple of low kicks to start. Kasaganay with a right hand, but Eblen dodges and continues to attack the legs. Eblen shoots in and scores a takedown. Kasaganay uses his positioning against the fence to bring himself back to the feet, but Eblen still has a hold of his hips. Kasaganay gets out of that position, but Eblen still is pinning him against the PFL SmartCage. Eblen lands a knee. Kasaganay breaks away with a little more than three minutes to go. Eblen avoids a combination from Kasaganay. Eblen working the jab, mixing in leg kicks.

 

Combination from Eblen. Combination from Kasaganay. Body kick by Eblen. Each lands as Eblen comes inside. Eblen misses a left overhand. Kasaganay backs Eblen up with a one-two, and Eblen fires back with a one-two. Low kick from Eblen. Left jab from Kasaganay. One-two by Kasaganay. Kasaganay lands several inside rights, but Eblen fires off some of his own and fires a high kick. Knee by Kasaganay. Right cross by Eblen. Body shot by Kasaganay. The two trade. Kasaganay goes for a kick, but Eblen fires an overhand. Kasaganay brings pressure and ends the round with a flying knee attempt.

 

 

Round 2

 

Body kick by Eblen is met by a couple of hard combinations that drops Eblen! Kasaganay sprawls in a takedown attempt by Eblen. Another combination drops Eblen, and again Kasaganay sprawls! Kasaganay is working over Eblen and wobbling him! Eblen on the back foot, but he answers and grabs a hold of Kasaganay’s leg, taking him to the fence. Eblen seems to be recovering, trying to bring this fight to the ground. Kasaganay breaks free and fires again! Eblen answers and lands an elbow, and the two engage in a body lock again. Eblen pins Kasaganay against the SmartCage.

 

 

Eblen manages to briefly get Kasaganay down, but Kasaganay returns to the feet. Eblen tries for a suplex but does land another takedown on Kasaganay. Eblen manages to get to Kasaganay’s back. Eblen rides over and gets in Kasaganay’s full guard. With less than 30 seconds to go, Eblen advances position to side control and fires off some shots upstairs on Kasaganay.

 

 

Round 3

 

The two flashed their jabs early in the final round, with Kasaganay trying to keep his distance. Right hand by Kasaganay. Left overhand by Kasaganay. Eblen lands upstairs but misses a left jab. Eblen misses another jab. Kasaganay lands a body kick, but Eblen lands a one-two in response. Both land a hook. Eblen with a nasty combination. Both land a jab. Both land a combination in the center. Both men continue to exchange and land.

 

Eblen lands a combination that backs Kasaganay up. Kasaganay finally fires back a response. Kasaganay stumbles a bit and Eblen lands a right to the head. Eblen scores a takedown with about 100 seconds left, with Eblen landing in side control. Eblen controlling one of Kasaganay’s legs. Kasaganay tries to reverse the position, but Eblen keeps him down, pinning him against the SmartCage again. Eblen gets to Kasaganay’s back and locks in a body lock. Eblen searching for a late choke. Kasaganay resisting as much as he can as Eblen searches for the neck. Kasaganay fires off some backwards elbows and fists. Eblen looks for last-second ground-and-pound, and the fight comes to a close!

 

 

What a battle from both men!

 

Ultimately, two judges ruled the fight in favor of Eblen.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Johnny Eblen defeats Impa Kasanganay by split decision (29-28, 29-28, 28-29), winning the Super Belt