At a Glance
- Johnny Eblen knocks out Impa Kasanganay in the 3rd round (2:39) in the main event of PFL Austin, winning the PFL interim middleweight (185 lbs) belt.
- It was the rematch of their first meeting, already won by Eblen by split decision at the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions event.
- Right after his win, Eblen called out reigning champion Costello van Steenis, who was cageside.
- Van Steenis had dethroned Eblen in May 2025 by submission (choke) in the closing moments of their fight, in Cape Town.
Johnny Eblen left no room for doubt in his rematch against Impa Kasanganay, in the main event of PFL Austin. Just two minutes and thirty-nine seconds into the third round, the American ended the fight by knockout, claiming the vacant PFL interim middleweight (185 lbs) belt along the way.
The matchup had all the makings of an expected rerun: the two men had already met at the historic PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions event, a fight Eblen won by split decision. This time, the former PFL middleweight champion left no further suspense, winning far more decisively than in their first meeting.
Their first meeting took place in a unique context: the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions event brought together, on the same card, the top fighters from both organizations after PFL’s acquisition of Bellator, an unprecedented format designed to settle who stood above whom between each promotion’s champions. Eblen represented the PFL at the time, with Kasanganay having joined the league through that same merger.
Eblen Already Calling Out van Steenis
As soon as the win was official, Johnny Eblen wasted no time stirring things up again: he turned straight to Costello van Steenis, who was cageside to watch the fight, and called him out for an immediate rematch. The gesture was no accident: it was van Steenis who ended Eblen’s reign atop the middleweight division, in May 2025 in Cape Town, submitting him by choke in the very last moments of their title fight, when Eblen had appeared in control up to that point.
With his new interim belt in hand, Eblen now holds significant leverage to demand that rematch and try to reclaim the title he feels was snatched from him in the closing seconds of a fight he was dominating. Van Steenis, for his part, has not yet publicly responded to the live callout.
What This Means for the Middleweight Division
This win puts Johnny Eblen back at the heart of the PFL middleweight hierarchy, and sends Impa Kasanganay back to square one in his title chase after this second loss to the same opponent. For Eblen, the interim belt acts mainly as a marker: it confirms his dominance over the rest of the division while a possible showdown with the reigning champion looms.
The PFL, which has made its tournament and then champions series format a key selling point against the competition, now has a ready-made storyline for its next big middleweight card: a third meeting between two men who already know each other well, with their last chapter decided in the closing moments of a fight that remained in doubt until the very end.
Key Takeaway
Johnny Eblen backed up his status as the favorite by beating Impa Kasanganay by third-round knockout, claiming the PFL interim middleweight belt. He immediately called out champion Costello van Steenis, the man who beat him in their previous title fight. A potential rematch could now shape up as the division’s next big fight.
FAQ
Who won the fight between Johnny Eblen and Impa Kasanganay at PFL Austin?
Johnny Eblen beat Impa Kasanganay by knockout in the third round (2:39), winning the PFL interim middleweight belt.
Was this the first time Eblen and Kasanganay had fought?
No, the two men had already met at the PFL Champions vs Bellator Champions event, a fight already won by Eblen, by split decision.
Who is the reigning PFL middleweight champion?
Costello van Steenis, who dethroned Johnny Eblen by submission in May 2025 in Cape Town. Eblen called him out for a rematch immediately after his win over Kasanganay.
