Eblen and Kasanganay Run It Back for the Interim Belt

PFL Austin runs back one of the closest title fights in PFL history. The PFL comes to Moody Center on Saturday, July 18 with former Middleweight World Champion Johnny "Pressure" Eblen and 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion Impa "Tshilobo" Kasanganay meeting for the Interim PFL Middleweight World Title, the first Interim Title fight in PFL history. The two former champions look to close this chapter after a closely contested first meeting. One night in Austin to settle the rematch.

The PFL Middleweight World Championship sits with Costello van Steenis, but an injury to the reigning champion created an opportunity for the interim title in Austin. The first Interim World Title bout in PFL history brings together the two fighters who pushed each other to a split decision in February 2024 at PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions. Eblen took the split decision that night, but Kasanganay has been waiting to get another shot at Eblen. Now they get the rematch with championship stakes attached.

Johnny "Pressure" Eblen enters Austin as the PFL's #1 ranked middleweight and chasing the Title he lost last year in Cape Town. The middleweight standout has built his career on wrestling, ground control, and forward pressure that broke every challenger across his Bellator Middleweight World Championship run and three successful title defenses. Eblen entered the PFL with an undefeated record but dropped his title to Costello van Steenis via a round 5 submission with 9 seconds remaining in the fight in July 2025. He bounced back in March 2026 at PFL Pittsburgh with a first round submission against  UFC veteran Bryan Battle in the main event. Eblen brings championship pedigree, recent finishing form, and the urgency of a fighter one win away from running it back at undisputed gold.

Watch: MIDDLEWEIGHT BANGER! Johnny Eblen vs Bryan Battle Full Fight, PFL Pittsburgh


Impa "Tshilobo" Kasanganay enters Austin as the #3 ranked middleweight one of the most credentialed contenders in the PFL. The 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion has taken the hard path all his career, knocking out Marthin Hamlet in the semifinals before beating Josh Silveira via unanimous decision across five rounds in the championship final. He moved down to his natural weight class to face Eblen at PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions in February 2024 and lost a closely contested split decision after dropping Eblen in round two. Kasanganay is coming off consecutive KO victories including a first round knockout over Dalton Rosta in the PFL Pittsburgh co-main event in March 2026, the same night Eblen finished Battle in the main event. Kasanganay brings championship credentials, finishing power, and a chance to rewrite the result he has carried since 2024. 


Watch: BRUTAL RIGHT FROM THE START! Dalton Rosta vs Impa Kasanganay Full Fight, PFL Pittsburgh

The first meeting could have gone either way with both fighters having their moments. Eblen controlled the opening round with his wrestling and grappling pressure, taking Kasanganay down and dictating the pace from top position. Kasanganay turned the second round with crisp combinations that dropped Eblen and forced Eblen to grab a leg to slow the fight. Eblen recovered, took the fight back to the canvas, and won the third round to earn the split decision verdict. The rematch becomes a fight about who can repeat what worked the first time and while making the necessary adjustments. 

Watch: An All-American CLASH! Johnny Eblen v Impa Kasanganay Full Fight & No Comms, PFL vs Bellator 

For Eblen, winning the Interim Title is another step towards regaining the undisputed PFL Middleweight World Title he lost in July of 2025. For Kasanganay, this is his path to undisputed title, and a win puts him at the front of the middleweight division and closes the chapter on February 2024. The winner walks out of Austin with the Interim Middleweight World Title and a shot at undisputed champion Costello van Steenis.



PFL Austin lands at Moody Center on Saturday, July 18. The main card airs live on ESPN 2 in the United States at 8p ET. Tickets are available on Ticketmaster at pfl.info/austin.