Impa Kasaganay survives wild war of a rematch to reach second straight PFL light heavyweight title fight Impa Kasaganay became one of MMA’s greatest underdog stories in 2023, going from sleeping in his car to winning $1 million. Kasaganay arrived in the PFL, and to the light heavyweight weight class, last year, earning a PFL contract through the PFL Challenger Series. Kasaganay then defeated Cory Hendricks, Tim Caron, Marthin Hamlet and Joshua Silveira to capture the 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight World Championship. Kasaganay dropped a decision to Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen in February but had another strong season with finishes of Alex Polizzi and Jakob Nedoh.

 

Capturing middleweight and light heavyweight gold in a prominent regional promotion, Joshua Silveira entered the PFL through the Challenger Series in 2022 as a noteworthy prospect. A grappling specialist, Silveira made his way to the 2023 title fight through finishes of Sam Kei, Delan Monte and Ty Flores. Silveira defeated Sadibou Sy in April but lost to Rob Wilkinson in June, meaning he’ll have to go through the man who bested him in last year’s title fight to get to this year’s championship matchup.

 

Will Kasaganay make it two wins over Silveira, or will Silveira score revenge? And who moves on to face Dovlet Yagshimuradov for the PFL Light Heavyweight World Championship this November?

 

 

Round 1

 

Silveira with a body kick as Kasaganay works combinations. Low kick from Silveira. Silveira threatens a takedown, but Kasaganay puts a stop to that. One-two from Kasaganay. Silveira looking to be aggressive. Kasaganay lands a solid hook. Right hand to the body for Kasaganay. Front kick by Silveira. One-two by Silveira. Right hand by Kasaganay. One-two from Kasaganay. Round kick by Kasaganay. Front kick to the body by Silveira. One-two from Kasaganay, right hand from Silveira. Silvera continuing to press forward. Silveira landing powerful hooks upstairs.

 

 

Silveira presses Kasaganay into the fence. About 10 seconds later comes the separation. Right hand from Silveira. Kasaganay lands a right hand upstairs, and now he’s pressing Silveira into the fence. Silveira reverses lands a clinch knee. Strong right hand from Kasaganay wobbles Silveira. One-two from Kasaganay. Front kick from Silveira. Kasaganay presses Silveira into the fence again. Kasaganay lands a couple of body shots inside. High kick from Kasaganay is blocked. High kick from Silveira is blocked. Right hand from Kasaganay. High kick from Kasaganay blocked again. Kasaganay rips to the body.

 

 

 

Round 2

 

Kasaganay working the jab at the start. Round kicks by Silveira. One-two from Silveira. Right hand lands for Kasaganay. Body kick by Silveira, Kasaganay lands to the body with a right hand. Right hand from Kasaganay, and Silveira answers by pressing Kasaganay into the fence. Silveira looking for the takedown, but Kasaganay fights it off. Dirty boxing briefly from both men before separating. One-two from Silveira. Kasaganay with a strong combination. Kasaganay round kick is blocked. Low kick from Silveira. Small combination from Kasaganay. Right hand from Kasaganay. Silveira lands a left.

 

 

Silveira lands a left hand. Both connect with jabs. Round kick by Kasaganay. One-two from Silveira. Kasaganay returns fire. Combination by Silveira hurts Kasaganay! Silveira presses Kasaganay to the fence. Kasaganay reverses the position and lands a solid knee to the stomach. Right hand by Kasaganay. Knee to the body by Silveira. Kasaganay presses with a pressuring combination from Kasaganay. Silveira throws a big flurry now! Silveira landing strong! Kasaganay returns! Kasaganay presses Silveira into the fence. Kasaganay with a knee. Solid back-and-forth action here in round two!

 

 

 

Round 3

 

Kasaganay comes forward with pressure, including a brief clinch. Kasaganay does not connect with a high kick. Right hand from Silveira. Left hand from Silveira. Kasaganay pressing Silveira against the fence. Knee to the body by Kasaganay. Strong left hand from Silveira. Kasaganay pressing forward again though. Silveira lands a couple of body shots. Knees by Kasaganay. Neither man’s shots are truly effective, with referee Keith Petersen calling for action. The two are separated a little less than halfway through the round.

 

 

Silveira with a right hand. Both men throw, and Silveira goes for a single-leg takedown. Kasaganay gets away, but Silveira presses him on the fence now. Kasaganay reverses the position. The ref again calls for activity. The two move off the cage with under two minutes to go. Kasaganay with a couple of strong hooks. Kasaganay with another hook on the inside. Kasaganay landing a strong combination with Silveira up against the fence. Kasaganay looks to lift and take Silveira down with 50 seconds left, but Silveira isn’t having it. Kasaganay with a couple of inside shots. Kasaganay scores the takedown with 25 seconds left! Silveira gets back to the feet, but Kasaganay pins him against the fence again, where the two remain until the end of the fight.

 

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Impa Kasanganay defeats Josh Silveira by unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28x2) in the PFL Light Heavyweight semifinals, earning a spot in the 2024 PFL World Championship. Kasanganay will face Dovlet Yagshimuradov for the 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight World Title and $1 million

  • Kasanganay is looking to win back-to-back PFL titles after winning the PFL light heavyweight belt and $1 million last season
  • Kasanganay has one of the most inspiring stories in sports. He was living in a tent on a friend’s farm outside of the Florida everglades at the beginning of 2023, he went on to win a PFL contract in the PFL Challenger Series, then won 4 straight season fights to become PFL world champion and a millionaire. Now he’ll have a shot at a second $1 million check and world title belt.
  • Kasanganay has won 9 of his last 10 fights, with the only loss in that stretch coming at middleweight vs. Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen at the PFL Champs vs. Bellator Champs event