PFL Finalizes July 18 Austin Card With Eblen-Kasanganay Interim Title Fight

Q: Can Impa Kasanganay's quest for a third divisional title begin with a victory tonight?

Yes — but a win tonight would start Kasanganay’s push toward a third divisional title, not complete it. At PFL Austin on July 18, Kasanganay faces Johnny Eblen for the interim PFL middleweight championship, the first interim world title fight in PFL history. He enters on strong form, with back-to-back knockout wins, and he has made no secret of the bigger plan: win at middleweight, unify against injured champion Costello van Steenis later in 2026, then pursue titles again at light heavyweight and eventually heavyweight. The immediate stakes are clear. Kasanganay is already the 2023 PFL light heavyweight tournament champion, so beating Eblen would give him a title in a second division, not a third. That is why tonight matters: it would open the door to a broader multi-division run rather than instantly deliver a third divisional crown. The challenge is significant. Eblen is the top-ranked contender, a former Bellator middleweight champion, and already owns a split-decision win over Kasanganay from 2024. He also comes in off a first-round submission win over Bryan Battle and made weight at 184.2 pounds, while Kasanganay weighed 183. So the answer is yes: Kasanganay can begin that larger quest with a victory tonight. But the bout in Austin is best understood as the launch point for a possible three-division chase, not the moment he secures a third divisional title.

3 articles · Updated · Professional Fighters League · Jul 16

July 18’s PFL Austin lineup is now complete, with Johnny Eblen facing Impa Kasanganay in the promotion’s first-ever interim middleweight world title bout at Moody Center.
Costello van Steenis’ injury forced the interim championship setup, delaying Eblen’s planned rematch with the reigning PFL middleweight champion.
Lewis McGrillen meets Rafael do Nascimento in the co-main event after Sergio Pettis withdrew injured, while Caolan Loughran vs. Julio Arce and Jesus Pinedo vs. Joseph Ruquet round out the main card.
ESPN2 will air the main card live in the U.S. from 8 p.m. ET, with prelims starting at 5:30 p.m. ET on the ESPN app.