Impa Kasanganay says PFL has best middleweight division in MMA

Impa Kasanganay is preparing to face former middleweight champion Johnny Eblen for the interim PFL middleweight title at PFL Austin on July 18—a historic matchup marking the first-ever interim championship fight in PFL history. Ahead of the bout, Kasanganay has doubled down on his conviction that the PFL's 185-pound roster is the strongest middleweight division across all of MMA.

Currently ranked No. 3 at middleweight, Kasanganay believes the top tier of the PFL's division represents the world's elite at the weight class. In promotional remarks, he highlighted the depth of the promotion's roster, noting that when identifying the best middleweights globally, "I'm there, Johnny's there, and you see the top five... this Top 5 in the PFL is probably the best one in the world currently."

The interim title opportunity arose after an injury to current champion Costello van Steenis, who claimed the belt by defeating Eblen in 2025. Eblen, the No. 1-ranked middleweight, returns to fight for the vacant interim crown, while Kasanganay seeks to stake his claim at championship gold. Only one fighter will leave Texas with interim PFL Middleweight World Champion status on July 18.