Johnny Eblen did not just win a fight in Austin on Saturday; he unleashed a torrent of violence and set the stage for an absolute powder keg of a rematch. The guy brought the pain, battering Impa Kasanganay for a TKO stoppage at 2:39 of Round 3 after a seriously dominant first two rounds. That’s Eblen moving to a stellar 18-1 record, and he looked every bit the part of a champion on a mission.
Eblen Delivers the Brutal Knockout and an Interim Title
When Eblen stepped into the PFL Austin cage at the Moody Center, he wasn’t messing around. After two rounds of pure control, he sent Kasanganay (now 20-7) crashing to the canvas with an absolutely devastating elbow-to-two-punch combination. As Kasanganay fell, two more follow-up punches slammed home, leaving him no shot to get back up. It was a clinical, brutal finish that secured Eblen the PFL interim middleweight title. But even bigger than the belt? It set up the rematch everyone wants to see. Champion Costello van Steenis was right there, cageside, watching the whole performance first-hand. You just know he was feeling that energy.
The Middle Fingers Heard ‘Round the PFL: A Rematch Fueled by Fire
This win wasn’t just about a title; it was about redemption and a raw, personal rivalry. Eblen, 34, has been on a tear, moving to 2-0 since he lost his title to van Steenis (18-3) in July 2025 in a shocking, last-second defeat. That loss clearly still stings. These two were actually supposed to headline Saturday’s main event, but van Steenis withdrew, pushing the anticipation to an unbearable level. So, after Eblen flattened Kasanganay, you better believe the tension was thick. Van Steenis climbed into the cage, and Eblen immediately greeted him with two middle fingers. Yeah, you read that right. The two fighters got right in each other’s faces, jawing back and forth until promotion security had to step in. This isn’t just a rematch; it’s a grudge match boiling over.
PFL Austin Undercard Results
Beyond the main event fireworks, the PFL Austin card delivered some serious action too. Rafael do Nascimento defeated Lewis McGrillen via submission (rear-naked choke) at 2:07 of Round 2. Julio Arce secured a unanimous decision victory over Caolan Loughran with scores of 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28. Jesus Pinedo earned a TKO win over Joey Ruquet via punches at 4:50 of Round 1. Gamid Khizriev submitted Biaggio Ali Walsh with a twister at 2:32 of Round 1. Aleksandra Savicheva got a split decision win against Andrea Vazquez (29-28, 28-29, 29-28). Ashley Thiner beat Mia Grawe by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28). Jackson Glass defeated Zak Flessas via TKO (strikes) at a lightning-fast 0:47 of Round 1. And Victoria Alba closed out the early finishes, defeating Borena Tsertsvadze via TKO (strikes) at 4:50 of Round 3.
After Saturday’s explosion, the PFL has no choice but to give us Eblen vs. van Steenis 2. Eblen is hungry, van Steenis is watching, and the animosity is off the charts. You absolutely cannot miss this next one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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