Bellator MMA middleweight champ Johnny Eblen has a tough fight on his hands on February 24, 2024 as he’s been booked against Impa Kasanganay.
Kasanganay, the PFL’s 2023 light heavyweight champion, is moving back down to middleweight for the fight, where he previously competed in the UFC. As for American Top Team’s Eblen, he’s a longtime 185’er considered by many to be the best in the world, especially with the UFC’s equivalent title being something of a hot potato recently.
Back in Bellator, meanwhile, the company, recently acquired by the PFL, has their light heavyweight title sitting vacant. That, and the million dollar PFL tournament that will kick off later this year, offers a world of opportunity — and Eblen could be interested.
“Man if they offer me enough money I might do it. Money talks, and I’m here to fight,” Eblen stated during Wednesday’s PFL Champions vs. Bellator Champions press conference. “I kind of like the tournament structure, I’m young, I wouldn’t have to cut weight for 205, so that’s easy money to me. Fighting four times in a year and making a million dollars sounds like a good plan to me.”
That said, Eblen added that “but as of now, I’m focused on Impa, I’m focused on defending my belt, and we’ll see where it leads.”
Johnny Eblen holds notable wins over Gegard Mousasi, Anatoly Tokov, John Salter, and others, and sits at a perfect 14-0 in a career dating back to 2017. “The Human Cheat Code” was also undefeated as an amateur.
