Impa Kasanganay candid about two-fight losing skid: 'I let myself get distracted'
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Impa Kasanganay's PFL career has been very successful, but it has hit a rough patch in the last year.
The UFC veteran joined the PFL roster through the promotion's challenger series, and went on to win five bouts in 2023 to claim that year's PFL tournament light heavyweight title and its $1 million prize. In 2024, Kasanganay (18-6) then lost a close split decision to Bellator champion Johnny Eblen in a champion vs. champion super fight, but went on to win three straight and reach another PFL tournament final. It was then that things took a turn. Kasanganay was stopped by Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov in the final of the 2024 tournament, and then again in the opening round of the 2025 PFL middleweight tournament this past April against Fabian Edwards.
Kasanganay admits he let outside factors get to him in this two fight stretch, which has given him unfavorable results.
"Man, I let myself get distracted," Kasanganay told MMA Junkie. "You can put your heart into things, and you can expect to turn out some way. I'm never a person who's scared to take a risk. I don't see what's the point of life if you're not taking risks. I'll take a risk like you want to build a business, and it does well, then build a gym, and it's great, then you have other things like motorcycles, and that's going really well. But you have to learn how to reevaluate who's around you, and you also have to evaluate what you're going to do next.
"Sometimes what you see in a fighter it's a reflection where somebody's life is currently, but I also know too that I've been down before. I've lost two fights before. I've been knocked out in front of the whole world before, and I became a champion. I'll be champion again soon. You're a champion before you get the belt, and I'm grateful for everything that's happened: The loss to Fabian, the loss to (Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov) – two guys I definitely could've beat, too. I have looked at myself, talked to my team, looked who's around me, and I'm at the most peace and dialed in. ... Soon I'll have those titles again."
Kasanganay returns to the PFL smart cage at 2025 PFL World Tournament 10: Finals on Aug. 21 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. He takes on fellow UFC veteran Andre Sanchez. Kasanganay, who was originally scheduled to fight Mike Shipman, very much likes this new matchup.
"Excellent opponent," Kasanganay said. "He's obviously been around for a while now. He's got heart, technique, skill, so my main focus is claiming this victory."
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