We have you covered for all of today’s PFL vs Bellator card, including the co-main event fight between Johnny Eblen and Impa Kasanganay.
Johnny Eblen (14-0) is the current Bellator middleweight champion and coming off a third-round TKO win over Fabian Edwards to defend his title for the second time. Eblen won the title back in June of 2022 when he beat Gegard Mousasi by a lopsided decision. In his career, he holds notable wins over John Salter, Anatoly Tokov, and Collin Huckbody.
Impa Kasanganay (15-3) is the reigning PFL light heavyweight champion as he won the 2023 season with a decision win over Josh Silveira, but will return to the middleweight division for this fight. In his career, the former UFC fighter holds notable wins over Maki Pitolo, Jared Gooden, and Marthin Hamlet among others.
Round one begins as Eblen lands a leg kick. Eblen shoots for a takedown and gets it, just 30 seconds into the fight. Impa Kasanganay does a good job as he gets back up to his feet, but Eblen takes him right back down. Eblen has Kasanganay up against the fence in the clinch. A nice elbow from Eblen as the two exit the clinch. A nice punch from Kasanganay lands. The two trade punches. A nice combination from Eblen as he throws a high kick that misses, Kasanganay lands another solid punch. Kasanganay is starting to find his groove as he lands another shot. A very competitve first round as the horn sounds.
The second round begins with a good kick as the two trades shot and Kasanganay drops Eblen. Eblen is looking for a takedown as he is rocked, Kasanganay is starting to piece up Eblen. The Bellator middleweight champion shoots for another takedown as Kasanganay stuffs it. Kasanganay lands masisve shots as Eblen is along the fence but the Bellator champ reverses and puts Kasanganay up against the fence. Eblen seems to have recovered as he gets Kasanganay down. Eblen has Kasanganay’s back but can’t do much with it as the round ends with Eblen on top landing heavy ground and pound. A very close fight through two rounds.
IMPA DROPS EBLEN!#PFLvsBellator LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 https://t.co/cJUXOuQ94d
🌏 https://t.co/jPNvomCxHI pic.twitter.com/JXOoRLwewo— PFL (@PFLMMA) February 24, 2024
The fight could be 1-1 as the third round starts as both men look tired. Johnny Eblen misses on a big shot, but lands a leg kick. Impa Kasanganay lands a nice shot. Both men land some nice punches. Good right hand from Eblen lands. Eblen lands a big combination. A good uppercut from Kasanganay but Eblen lands a big left hook. Eblen is doing well in the third round as he lands anoher big combination as he’s putting Kasanganay on the back foot. Eblen gets Kasanganay down with 90 seconds left in what has been a very competitve fight. Eblen has ahold of Kasanganay’s back with 40 seconds left as he’s searching for a choke. The final horn sounds and what an incredible fight.
WoW what a fight! We go to the scorecards…#PFLvsBellator LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 https://t.co/ZwqrGR9auB
🌏 https://t.co/KBGUrUXBLA pic.twitter.com/Swser891c4— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) February 24, 2024
Results: Johnny Eblen def. Impa Kasanganay by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
