Eblen stops Kasanganay to claim PFL interim middleweight title

Johnny Eblen won the PFL interim middleweight title on Saturday night, finishing Impa Kasanganay in the third round of the main event at PFL Austin. The victory puts the 34-year-old on course for a unification bout with the division's reigning champion, Costello van Steenis.

Eblen had spent the fight working behind his jab, opening a cut on Kasanganay, before landing an elbow that rocked his opponent and a follow-up punch that sent him to the canvas. It was a far more decisive result than their first meeting in February 2024, which Eblen won by split decision. The win extends his professional record to 18-1.

An interim belt and an overdue rematch

Eblen had originally been booked to face Van Steenis in Austin, but the champion was forced to withdraw through injury, leaving the interim title as the prize on the night. Van Steenis handed Eblen the only defeat of his career at PFL Africa 1 in July 2025, securing a rear-naked choke with nine seconds remaining in the final round to become the promotion's inaugural middleweight champion. He followed that up with a successful title defence against Fabian Edwards in March.

• Eblen beat Kasanganay by third-round KO/TKO in the PFL Austin main event at the Moody Centre
• Eblen moves to 18-1 and now holds the interim middleweight belt
• A unification fight with Van Steenis is next, with the champion holding the only win over Eblen
• In the co-main event, England's Lewis McGrillen lost by second-round rear-naked choke to Rafael do Nascimento
• Julio Arce beat Caolan Loughran by unanimous decision, while Jesus Pinedo stopped Joey Ruquet

McGrillen's defeat was the standout upset of the undercard. The 25-year-old English fighter had been a heavy favourite in his first bout on American soil but was submitted in the second round by do Nascimento, leaving him with a 12-2 professional record. Loughran, previously scheduled to face McGrillen in October, was also beaten on the night, dropping a unanimous decision to Arce.

Eblen had support in the building, with his teammate, UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland, watching from the arena. No date has yet been announced for the unification bout, but the result in Austin means the division now has a clear next step: Eblen against Van Steenis, with the undisputed title and a chance at revenge on the line.