Ayeni Olusegun
Riyadh
Impa Kasanganay’s journey from adversity to triumph is inspiring.
The reigning Professional Fighters League (PFL) light heavyweight champion, who won the 2023 title and the $1 million prize, is back in the smartcage, ready to defend his belt.
The 30-year-old American of Congolese descent has had a career marked by ups and downs. After a two-year stint in the UFC, which ended in 2022, where he posted a 2-3 record, Kasanganay became the subject of one of mixed martial arts’ most viral knockout moments.
The Florida-born fighter was famously dropped by Joaquin Buckley’s jumping spinning back kick in 2020 -- a highlight for Buckley but a life lesson for Kasanganay.
He was cut from the UFC in 2022 and took a detour through the EFC and XMMA before landing with the PFL, kickstarting a story for the ages.
Kasanganay seized his opportunity, debuting in the PFL through the Challenger Series before climbing the ranks.
He capped off his remarkable comeback in November 2023 with a commanding unanimous decision victory over Josh Silveira to claim the light heavyweight title and the million-dollar prize.
Now, Kasanganay is set to defend his belt against Turkmenistan’s Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov at the 2024 PFL World Championships today (November 29) at King Saud University in Riyadh.
Reflecting on his journey, Kasanganay remains grateful for the challenges that shaped him into the fighter he is today and aims to inspire others to be resilient and limitless.
“Everybody has different challenges. God gives you challenges to show you who you are,” Kasanganay told Qatar Tribune.
“Yes, I lived in my car, but more importantly, I’m a child of God. My parents, immigrants from Kinshasa, Congo, did everything to help me get where I am. They are a big part of why I’m a champion today.”
“Challenges don’t limit you; they propel you to where you need to be. Even during tough times, I always saw myself as a champion. I respect Dovletdzhan, but I’ll take him out,” he added.
Speaking about training camp and preparation heading into the fight, he highlighted how his sparring partners pushed him to refine his skills.
“You have to go through the fire to refine yourself, and that’s what I did. I love what Marvin Hagler said: ‘Feed the faith, starve the doubt.’ Dominate, take care of your opponent, and move forward.”
Kasanganay’s opponent, Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov, brings a wealth of experience with a 24-7-1 record. Despite two opening losses, the Turkmenistan athlete finished with three wins in the Bellator.
In the PFL, though, Yagshimuradov opened strong with a TKO and a decision win over Jakob Nedoh and Simon Biyong. In the semifinal round, the 35-year-old Rob Wilkinson via unanimous decision.
Beyond defending his title, Kasanganay is motivated by a deeper purpose: inspiring people from Africa and around the world to pursue their dreams.
“To Africa and the children out there, being the child of immigrants from Congo means everything to me. I don’t believe in borders—whether you’re from Nigeria, Mali, Angola, Rwanda, South Africa, or anywhere else, we’re all connected. We are the seeds of our continent, and it’s an honour to fight for you.”
