PFL Austin: Johnny Eblen flattens Impa Kasanganay, sets up Costello van Steenis rematch

Johnny Eblen did three things Saturday at PFL Austin.

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The first: he brought the violence. After a dominant first two rounds, Eblen (18-1) battered Impa Kasanganay (20-7) for a TKO stoppage at 2:39 of Round 3. The second: he won the PFL interim middleweight title. The third: he set up a rematch against champion Costello van Steenis, who was feet away from the cage to watch the performance first-hand. The event took place at Moody Center in Austin.

An elbow-to-two-punch combination sent Kasanganay crashing to the canvas. Two follow-up punches gave him no chance to get up.

Johnny Eblen KOs Impa Kasanganay in the rematch to become interim middleweight champion 🏆 #PFLAustin

🎥 @PFLMMApic.twitter.com/7z6Oi0S2FS

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) July 19, 2026

Eblen, 34, moves to 2-0 since he lost his title to van Steenis (18-3) in shocking last-second fashion in July 2025. The two were expected to rematch in Saturday's main event before van Steenis withdrew.

After the fight, van Steenis entered the cage and Eblen greeted him with two middle fingers. The two fighters jawed at one another as promotion security intervened.

Johnny Eblen is your new PFL Interim Middleweight World Champion! 🙌

Costello van Steenis has entered the chat...#PFLAustin | 📺 MAIN CARD LIVE NOW ON ESPN 2 pic.twitter.com/VaLIrDDJ7i

— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 19, 2026

Full PFL Austin results included:

• Johnny Eblen def. Impa Kasanganay via knockout (punches) – Round 2, 2:39 – for interim middleweight title
• Rafael do Nascimento def. Lewis McGrillen via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 2, 2:07
• Julio Arce def. Caolan Loughran via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Jesus Pinedo def. Joey Ruquet via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:50
• Gamid Khizriev def. Biaggio Ali Walsh via submission (twister) – Round 1, 2:32
• Aleksandra Savicheva def. Andrea Vazquez via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
• Ashley Thiner def. Mia Grawe via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Jackson Glass def. Zak Flessas via TKO (strikes) – Round 1, 0:47
• Victoria Alba def. Borena Tsertsvadze via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 4:50

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: PFL Austin: Johnny Eblen flattens Impa Kasanganay, sets up Costello van Steenis rematch

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