PFL Austin: Eblen vs. Kasanganay 2 Preview: Full Fight Card Breakdown
The first interim world title fight in PFL history lands July 18 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas. When Costello van Steenis — the reigning PFL Middleweight World Champion — withdrew injured from his scheduled title defense against Johnny Eblen, the promotion did not blink: it booked an interim belt instead, and called Impa Kasanganay to be the man who fights for it. The result is a card headlined by a legitimate rematch between two of the best middleweights outside the UFC, with something new on the line.
Full Fight Card
| Fight | Weight Class | Card Section |
|---|---|---|
| Johnny Eblen vs. Impa Kasanganay | Middleweight | Main Card |
| Lewis McGrillen-Evans vs. Rafael do Nascimento | Bantamweight | Main Card |
| Caolán Loughran vs. Julio Arce | Featherweight | Main Card |
| Jesus Pinedo vs. Levy Saúl Marroquín | Featherweight | Main Card |
| Andrea Vazquez vs. Aleksandra Savicheva | Women's Flyweight | Preliminary Card |
| Sergio Cossio vs. Kolton Englund | Lightweight | Preliminary Card |
| Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Gamid Khizriev | Lightweight | Preliminary Card |
| Brandon Davis vs. Luciano Pereira | Bantamweight | Preliminary Card |
| Ashley Thiner vs. Mia Grawe | Women's Strawweight | Preliminary Card |
| Borena Tsertsvadze vs. Victoria Alba | Women's Flyweight | Preliminary Card |
| Jackson Glass vs. Zak Flessas | Featherweight | Preliminary Card |
Main Event: Eblen vs. Kasanganay 2 — Interim PFL Middleweight Title
Johnny Eblen (17-1) went into 2025 as PFL's most decorated middleweight — an unbeaten run that started in 2016 and carried him through Bellator middleweight gold. It ended in Cape Town. Eblen was submitted by rear-naked choke in the fifth round against van Steenis at the inaugural PFL Africa event, a result that stunned observers who had made him a heavy favorite. He responded at PFL Pittsburgh with a first-round submission win over Bryan Battle — the kind of bounce-back that tells you how a fighter processes a first loss. That win put him back in the title conversation fast.
Kasanganay (20-6) brings a different origin to this rematch. The 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament champion moved back down to middleweight and rebuilt, stopping Dalton Rosta in the first round at PFL Charlotte. His wins have come in multiple ways — decisions, knockouts, submissions — and his physical tools at 185 pounds make him dangerous against anyone. He also believes the first fight between them was closer than the scorecards suggested.
He has a point. Their first meeting was at the PFL vs. Bellator: Champions event in Riyadh, where Eblen — then the undefeated Bellator middleweight champion — took a split decision. One judge had Kasanganay winning. Given both fighters have grown since that 2024 bout, this rematch shapes up to be tighter and more consequential.
The tactical picture favors Eblen's wrestling-based approach if he can impose his pace. Kasanganay has knockout power to change the fight at any moment and is a credible submission threat if he gets to the mat first. Neither man is one-dimensional, which makes their stylistic overlap the engine for what should be an engaging main event.
The interim belt adds organizational weight. Van Steenis remains the recognized champion, which means whoever takes the interim title in Austin inherits not just the belt but the unification fight that follows — very likely against the man who submitted Eblen in South Africa. This win sets up the biggest bout in PFL middleweight history.
Co-Main Event: McGrillen-Evans vs. Do Nascimento
Lewis McGrillen-Evans (12-1) is one of PFL's emerging bantamweight prospects, building a strong record without much mainstream spotlight. Rafael do Nascimento (12-3) is a Brazilian finisher at 135 pounds and a meaningful test for anyone in the division. With Sergio Pettis' original bantamweight slot cancelled, this fight was elevated to co-main. It is a legitimate contest between two fighters who have shown they can finish.
Notable Fights
Caolán Loughran vs. Julio Arce is a featherweight main card bout with clear stakes. Arce (21-7) spent the bulk of his career in the UFC, where he showed sharp striking and offensive variety at 145 pounds. Loughran (11-3) is an Irish featherweight building his case inside the PFL. Arce's experience gives him an edge, but Loughran's recent progress makes the result less predictable than the records imply.
Biaggio Ali Walsh vs. Gamid Khizriev is the lightweight prelim drawing the most narrative attention. Ali Walsh (4-1), grandson of Muhammad Ali, is still in the early stages of building his professional record. Khizriev (6-0) arrives undefeated and represents a genuine measure of where Ali Walsh sits in the division. Two young fighters building toward bigger things, meeting now before either achieves mainstream visibility.
Broadcast and Context
PFL Austin opens the promotion's six-event Summer Series running through August. Main card airs on ESPN2 at 8 PM ET. Prelims stream on the ESPN App at 5 PM ET. The interim middleweight title fight gives this card an urgency beyond a standard Summer Series event — whoever wins leaves Austin holding a belt that puts them directly in line for the biggest fight the PFL can make at 185 pounds.
Moody Center. Austin, Texas. July 18.