Kasanganay backs PFL's middleweights as world's best ahead of interim title clash with Eblen

Impa Kasanganay has staked a bold claim ahead of his interim middleweight title fight, insisting the PFL’s 185-pound roster is the finest collection of middleweights in the sport. The former UFC talent faces ex-champion Johnny Eblen at PFL Austin on Saturday, July 18, in what will be the first interim championship bout in PFL history.

Speaking in a promotional video posted by the PFL on X, Kasanganay — nicknamed “Tshilobo” — made no attempt to hedge his assessment.

“What makes this matchup so competitive, you know, is the best middleweights in the world, right? I mean it. Across organizations, you say, OK, who are the best guys at what they do? I’m there, Johnny’s there, and you see the top five… Like John Martin said, this Top 5 in the PFL is probably the best one in the world currently.”

The interim title is on the table because reigning PFL middleweight champion Costello van Steenis is sidelined through injury. The Dutch-Spaniard claimed the belt from Eblen in 2025, leaving the No. 1-ranked Eblen as the natural challenger for an interim crown. Kasanganay enters the bout ranked third in the division.

The matchup is a rematch in all but name for two fighters who know each other well within the PFL’s competitive middleweight bracket. Eblen’s pedigree as a former champion gives the contest genuine weight, while Kasanganay’s willingness to call out the wider MMA landscape adds an extra layer of stakes to a fight that already carries a title.

For Kasanganay, the bout represents an opportunity to validate his divisional confidence with hardware. A win over Eblen would not only make him interim champion but would position him as the frontrunner to unify the title whenever van Steenis returns.