PFL Austin: Eblen vs. Kasanganay 2

What to watch: PFL breaks new ground in Austin with the promotion's first interim world title fight, and it doubles as a grudge rematch. Johnny Eblen (17-1) narrowly edged Impa Kasanganay (20-6) by split decision the first time, a close, technical scrap; expect Kasanganay to force a more physical fight this time, leaning on the power that made him the 2023 light-heavyweight tournament winner. Eblen's edge is his relentless pressure grappling and cardio — if he drags this into deep water, his championship rounds have historically decided fights. The question is whether Kasanganay's finishing instinct can end it before Eblen's volume takes over. The stakes are real: the winner earns the interim strap and a mandatory unification shot at injured champion Costello van Steenis, the only man to beat Eblen. Underneath, Sergio Pettis brings elite footwork and title pedigree against unbeaten prospect Lewis McGrillen in a bantamweight co-main that tests whether the veteran can still hold off the next wave. A stacked international undercard rounds it out on ESPN2.

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Results (Moody Center, Austin — July 18, 2026 local time / July 19 JST): Johnny Eblen finished Impa Kasanganay in round three (2:39) — an elbow that hurt Kasanganay followed by a punch barrage that forced the referee to step in — to capture the first-ever interim PFL Middleweight World Championship. Having also beaten Kasanganay by split decision in their 2024 meeting, Eblen goes 2-0 in the series and is the clear frontrunner for a unification bout once champion Costello van Steenis is healthy enough to return.

The co-main also changed shape before fight night: originally-billed Sergio Pettis was not on the card, and PFL newcomer Rafael do Nascimento instead faced Lewis McGrillen, submitting him with a rear-naked choke at 2:07 of round two. A similar swap happened further down the card — Jesus Pinedo's opponent shifted from the previously-listed Levy Saúl Marroquín to Joey Ruquet, whom Pinedo finished by TKO at 4:50 of round one.

Elsewhere, Julio Arce out-pointed Caolán Loughran by unanimous decision, Aleksandra Savicheva edged Andrea Vazquez by split decision, and prelim standout Gamid Khizriev submitted Biaggio Ali Walsh with a twister in round one, on a finish-heavy card.