Johnny Eblen Scores Spectacular Knockout, Sets Up PFL Middleweight Title Rematch at PFL Austin
A championship opportunity delayed turned into a statement-making performance Saturday night at PFL Austin, as Johnny Eblen punched his ticket to another shot at middleweight gold with a highlight-reel finish.
Competing for the interim PFL Middleweight Championship after undisputed champion Costello Van Steenis was forced to withdraw from their scheduled title fight due to injury, Eblen (18-1) delivered a dominant performance before stopping Impa Kasanganay (20-7) by third-round knockout at 2:39.
From the opening bell, Eblen showcased the crisp striking that has become a larger part of his gameplan. The former Bellator champion repeatedly snapped Kasanganay’s head back with sharp jab-cross combinations while mixing in the threat of his wrestling. Late in the opening round, Eblen landed a perfectly timed left hook that sent Kasanganay crashing to the canvas in the final seconds.
Eblen continued to dictate the pace in the second round, controlling the distance and opening a cut over Kasanganay’s left eyebrow with his accurate offense. The finish came midway through the third when Eblen blasted Kasanganay with a crushing elbow before immediately following with a devastating right hook that sent his opponent face-first to the canvas for the walk-off knockout.
The victory secures the long-awaited rematch with Van Steenis, giving Eblen the opportunity to unify the middleweight championship while avenging the lone loss of his professional career.
Earlier on the main card, Rafael do Nascimento (13-2) handed Lewis McGrillen (12-2) his second professional defeat with a second-round rear-naked choke. The Brazilian immediately imposed his grappling, scoring multiple takedowns and threatening with leg locks before taking McGrillen’s back in the second round. Even as McGrillen worked back to his feet, do Nascimento maintained the position to secure the submission at 2:07.
Veteran featherweight Julio Arce (22-7) turned in one of the cleanest striking performances of the evening, earning a unanimous decision over Caolan Loughran (11-4). Arce opened a cut with an elbow in the opening round before consistently picking Loughran apart with precise boxing combinations to earn scores of 29-28 and 30-27 twice.
Former 2023 PFL Featherweight Champion Jesus Pinedo (26-8-1) reminded everyone why he remains one of the division’s most dangerous finishers. Facing late replacement Joey Ruquet (10-5), who stepped in on just days’ notice for Saul Levy, Pinedo overwhelmed his opponent early. After trapping Ruquet against the fence with a barrage of hooks that produced a knockdown, Pinedo unleashed a relentless ground-and-pound attack that forced the referee to stop the contest at 4:40 of the opening round. The finish marked the 17th knockout victory of Pinedo’s career.
The preliminary card featured several memorable finishes, led by an impressive promotional debut from lightweight Gamid Khizriev (5-0). After repeatedly dragging Biaggio Ali Walsh (4-2) to the mat, Khizriev secured his fourth takedown of the round before locking in a body triangle. As Ali Walsh attempted to reverse position, Khizriev smoothly transitioned into a rare Twister submission, forcing the tap just 2:32 into the opening round.
In the women’s flyweight division, Aleksandra Savicheva (8-2) edged Andrea Vazquez (8-4) by split decision in a competitive three-round contest.
Ashley Thiner remained unbeaten by improving to 3-0 with a unanimous decision over previously undefeated Mia Grace (3-1). The all-action strawweight bout never hit the mat, with Thiner nearly doubling Grace’s significant strike output while consistently attacking the body throughout all three rounds.
Featherweight prospect Jackson Glass (4-0) kept his perfect record intact with a brutal stoppage of Zak Flessas (2-2). Glass unleashed a vicious sequence that included a tomahawk elbow, clinch elbow, hammerfists, and legal soccer kicks to the body of his grounded opponent before earning the TKO victory.
Opening the prelims, Victoria Alba (7-2) overwhelmed Borena Tsertsvadze (6-2) in the third round of their women’s flyweight contest. Alba trapped Tsertsvadze against the fence with relentless punches and kicks before the sustained barrage forced a stoppage with just 10 seconds remaining in the fight.
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