Eblen and Kasanganay Run It Back for the Interim Middleweight World Title

The PFL comes to the 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 in 2024. One night in Austin to be crowned a World Champion and settle the rivalry.

MAIN EVENT: EBLEN vs KASANGANAY 2

The PFL Middleweight World Title sits with Costello van Steenis, but an injury to the champion created an opportunity for the first Interim Title fight in PFL history. This fight brings two fighters who pushed each other to a split decision in 2024 at PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions. Eblen took the split decision in their first meeting, but Kasanganay has been waiting to get another shot at Eblen. Now they get the rematch with the the Interim World Title on the line.

Johnny Eblen enters Austin as the #1 ranked middleweight and chasing the Title he lost last year to Costello van Steenis. The middleweight standout has built his career on wrestling, ground control, and forward pressure that broke every challenger across his Bellator Middleweight World Title run and three successful title defenses. After Eblen’s first professional loss, he bounced back in March at PFL Pittsburgh with a first round submission against Bryan Battle in the main event. For Eblen this fight is more than just an Interim Title, it is a chance to secure a rematch for the undisputed title against Costello van Steenis.

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

Standing across is Impa Kasanganay who enters Austin as the #3 ranked middleweight and one of the most credentialed contenders in the PFL. The 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Champion has taken the long road all his career and now has a chance to claim PFL gold for the second time in his career. In 2024, Kasanganay dropped a close split decision loss to Eblen at PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions, in a fight where he dropped Eblen in round 2. Kasanganay is coming off consecutive KO victories including a first round knockout over Dalton Rosta in the PFL Pittsburgh co-main event in March. 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. In the second round, Kasanganay dropped Eblen with a combination that forced Eblen to grab a leg to slow the fight down and recover. Eblen recovered, and took the fight back to the canvas, and won the third round to earn the split decision. The rematch becomes a fight about who can repeat what worked the first time and while making the necessary adjustments to be crowned the Middleweight Interim World Champion and earn a shot at Costello van Steenis.

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 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 with Eblen. 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 the 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.