Impa “Tshilobo” Kasanganay (6-0 MMA)
Age: 26 years old
Height: 5’11″
Weight Class: Middleweight (185lbs)
First DW’s Contender Series Fight: August 27th, 2019 (Week 10)
Old DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Kailan Hill (4-1gh MMA)
Second DW’s Contender Series Fight: August 11, 2020 (Week 2)
New DW’s Contender Series Opponent: Anthony Adams (8-1)
First DWCS Fight
Amazingly, Kasanganay’s appearance in the Contender Series fight was his 6th fight 2019 and just his first year of fighting as a professional MMA fighter. When Impa first fought on the Contender Series some of his main attributes that stuck out during the fight were his solid takedown defense, adequate grappling, and good striking fundamentals. Kasanaganay has very good hands and throws great looking combinations though sometimes hesitant to throw the trigger. Impa can definitely wrestle and was able to show it off in his dog fight against Hill. Impa Kasanaganay would ultimately come away with the unanimous decision win but he would not get into the UFC on that night as his performance just wasn’t impressive enough and against a relatively inexperienced fighter in Kailan Hill.
Contender Series Opponent
Impa fought Kailan Hill, a 4-0 fighter in his first bout on the Contender Series. Though looking inexperienced on paper, Hill had faced some decent competition in a professional MMA career. Hill is known for his flying knees, flashy and aggressive style.
The Road Back
Impa Kasanganay has not had a fight since his appearance on the Contender Series last year in August. Impa has been trying to fight but has had three potential bouts of his canceled through no fault of his own. The fights that fell through were two bouts against Andre Hall back in 2019 and a fight against Daniel Madrid earlier this year.
Gameplan / New Opponent
Kasanganay’s new opponent for his second shot in the Contender Series will be a man that is also getting his second shot too. Impa will fight Anthony Adams who is a veteran of the Contender Series and was on the show just a year prior to him. Adams has more professional MMA experience and has faced more experienced competition too. Impa will need to take away Anthony’s movement and finish the fight. Kasanganay, much like his opponent, was just a little too inactive in his last appearance on the Contender Series, it is likely that he will come with a slightly more aggressive gameplan to impress Dana enough to win that UFC contract.
