Impa Kasanganay (born January 17, 1994) is an American mixed martial artist[4] who competes in the Light heavyweight division of Professional Fighters League (PFL). He formerly competed in the Welterweight and Middleweight divisions of Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
| Impa Kasanganay | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 17, 1994 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States |
| Other names | Tshilobo |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Weight | 205 lb (93 kg; 14 st 9 lb) |
| Division | Light Heavyweight (2023–present) Welterweight (2021–2022) Middleweight (2019–2021, 2022, 2024) |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm)[1] |
| Fighting out of | Deerfield Beach, Florida[2] |
| Team | Kill Cliff FC (2021–present)[3] Gym-O (2019–2021) |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Mixed martial arts record | |
| Total | 21 |
| Wins | 17 |
| By knockout | 5 |
| By submission | 4 |
| By decision | 8 |
| Losses | 4 |
| By knockout | 2 |
| By decision | 2 |
| Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog | |
Background
Born to Congolese immigrants in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before moving to North Carolina at the age of 12. He attended Providence High School in Charlotte, where he started playing American football during his senior year.[5][6] Kasanganay earned a scholarship to Lenoir-Rhyne University in 2016, before turning his attention to the cage. During the beginnings of his MMA career, Impa worked as an accountant and holds three degrees, an associate degree in Business Administration and accounting, a Bachelor's in Accounting and a Bachelor's in Finance.[7][4][8]
Mixed martial arts career
Early career
Making his MMA debut at 864 Fighting Championship, Impa won his first bout via split decision against Garett Fosdyck. Kasanganay would go on to win his next 4 bouts on the regional scene, defeating Dahlen Willson at Island Fights 53 by unanimous decision, tapping out John Lewis in the first round at Island Fights 54, submitting Roger Pratcher via rear-naked choke in the first round at KOTC Rumble On The River 2, and then finally defeating Devorious Tubbs via split decision in his one and only outing with Legacy Fighting Alliance at LFA 71 on July 12, 2019.[9]
Dana White’s Contender Series
Kasanganay was invited to Dana White's Contender Series 26 on August 27, 2019, where he defeated Kailan Hill via unanimous decision.[10]
After not gaining a UFC contract on his first try, Impa was invited back to Dana White's Contender Series 28 on August 11, 2020, where he defeated Anthony Adams via unanimous decision. With the win, he received a UFC contract.[11]
Ultimate Fighting Championship
Kasanganay made his UFC debut against Maki Pitolo on August 29, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić.[12] He won the fight via unanimous decision.[13]
Kasanganay, as a replacement for Abu Azaitar, faced Joaquin Buckley on October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen. Buckley won the fight in spectacular fashion via spinning back kick knockout in the second round.[14]
Kasanganay faced Sasha Palatnikov on April 10, 2021, at UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland.[15] After hurting Palatnikov, he secured a rear naked choke winning the fight via submission in the second round.[16]
Kasanganay faced Carlston Harris on September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 192.[17] He lost the fight via technical knockout in round one.[18]
On December 2, 2021, it was announced that Kasanganay was no longer on the UFC roster.[19]
Post-UFC career
On January 19, 2022, news surfaced that Kasanganay had signed a contract with Eagle Fighting Championship.[20] He faced Raimond Magomedaliev at Eagle FC 46 on March 11, 2022.[21] At weigh-ins, Kasanganay weighed in at 179.2 pounds, 3.2 pounds over the super welterweight non-title limit. The bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined a percentage of his purse, which went to Raimond.[22] Kasanganay lost the fight via split decision.[23]
Kasanganay faced Jared Gooden at XMMA 5 on July 23, 2022. He won the fight by a first-round TKO stoppage.[24]
Professional Fighters League
Kasanganay faced Osama Elseady on March 10, 2023 at PFL Challenger Series 15, winning the bout by TKO at the end of the first round, securing a PFL contract.[25]
Kasanganay returned to action three weeks later as he faced Cory Hendricks at PFL 1 on April 1, 2023.[26] He won the fight by unanimous decision.[27]
2023 season
Stepping in for a suspended fighter, Kasanganay entered the 2023 season against Tim Caron on June 8, 2023 at PFL 4.[28] He won the fight via an arm-triangle choke submission in the second round.[29]
In the semi-finals, he faced Marthin Hamlet at PFL 7 on August 4, 2023, winning the fight via knockout in the first round to advance to the finals.[30]
In the final, Kasanganay faced Josh Silveira on November 24, 2023 at PFL 10.[31] He won the fight via unanimous decision to win the 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Championship and $1 million collective dollar prize.[32]
2024 season
Kasanganay faced Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen in a three round non-title crossover fight, on February 24, 2024, at PFL vs. Bellator.[33] He lost the closely contested bout via split decision.[34][35]
Kasanganay started the 2024 season against Alex Polizzi on April 12, 2024 at PFL 2.[36] He won the bout by first-round technical knockout.[37]
Kasanganay next faced Jakob Nedoh in the co-main event of PFL 5 on June 21, 2024.[38][39] He won the fight via TKO at the end of the second round.
Championships and accomplishments
Mixed martial arts record
| 21 matches | 17 wins | 4 losses |
| By knockout | 5 | 2 |
| By submission | 4 | 0 |
| By decision | 8 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | 17–4 | Jakob Nedoh | TKO (doctor stoppage) | PFL 5 (2024) | June 21, 2024 | 2 | 5:00 | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States | |
| Win | 16–4 | Alex Polizzi | TKO (punches) | PFL 2 (2024) | April 12, 2024 | 1 | 3:39 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Loss | 15–4 | Johnny Eblen | Decision (split) | PFL vs. Bellator | February 24, 2024 | 3 | 5:00 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Middleweight bout. For "PFL Champion vs. Bellator Champion" Super Belt. |
| Win | 15–3 | Josh Silveira | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 10 (2023) | November 24, 2023 | 5 | 5:00 | Washington, D.C., United States | Won the 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament. |
| Win | 14–3 | Marthin Hamlet | KO (punches) | PFL 7 (2023) | August 4, 2023 | 1 | 2:24 | San Antonio, Texas, United States | 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Semifinal. |
| Win | 13–3 | Tim Caron | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | PFL 4 (2023) | June 8, 2023 | 2 | 3:52 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 12–3 | Cory Hendricks | Decision (unanimous) | PFL 1 (2023) | April 1, 2023 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 11–3 | Osama Elseady | TKO (punches) | PFL Challenger Series 15 | March 10, 2023 | 1 | 4:15 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Light Heavyweight debut. |
| Win | 10–3 | Jared Gooden | TKO (punches) | XMMA 5 | July 23, 2022 | 1 | 3:16 | Columbia, South Carolina, United States | Return to Middleweight. |
| Loss | 9–3 | Raimond Magomedaliev | Decision (split) | Eagle FC 46 | March 11, 2022 | 3 | 5:00 | Miami, Florida, United States | Catchweight (179.2 lb) bout; Kasanganay missed weight. |
| Loss | 9–2 | Carlston Harris | TKO (punches) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Spann | September 18, 2021 | 1 | 2:38 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 9–1 | Sasha Palatnikov | Submission (rear-naked choke) | UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland | April 10, 2021 | 2 | 0:26 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | Welterweight debut. |
| Loss | 8–1 | Joaquin Buckley | KO (spinning back kick) | UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen | October 11, 2020 | 2 | 2:03 | Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | |
| Win | 8–0 | Maki Pitolo | Decision (unanimous) | UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić | August 29, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 7–0 | Anthony Adams | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series 28 | August 11, 2020 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 6–0 | Kailan Hill | Decision (unanimous) | Dana White's Contender Series 26 | August 27, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | |
| Win | 5–0 | Devorious Tubbs | Decision (split) | LFA 71 | July 12, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Atlanta, Georgia, United States | |
| Win | 4–0 | Roger Pratcher | Submission (rear-naked choke) | KOTC: Rumble On The River 2 | May 11, 2019 | 1 | 4:30 | North Augusta, South Carolina, United States | |
| Win | 3–0 | John Lewis | Submission (verbal) | Island Fights 54 | March 22, 2019 | 1 | 1:58 | Panama City Beach, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 2–0 | Dahlen Wilson | Decision (unanimous) | Island Fights 53 | March 6, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Fort Walton Beach, Florida, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Garrett Fosdyck | Decision (split) | 864 Fighting Championship: Showcase MMA | January 25, 2019 | 3 | 5:00 | Johnson City, Tennessee, United States | Middleweight debut. |