If you were still in the mood for fisticuffs following UFC Seattle, PFL Pittsburgh went down Saturday night, with the last couple of fights unfolding just after the UFC card.
That included middleweight Impa Kasanganay, a former PFL Global season champ, putting away former Bellator standout Dalton Rosta. The knockout came in the opening round, Kasanganay knocking down Rosta then uncorking several powerful punches on the local fighter before the ref could step in.
An emphatic victory for Kasanganay, who puts himself in a great position. Ranked #3 at middleweight, Impa is behind only Fabian Edwards, who just lost a title shot against champ Costello van Steenis, and Johnny Eblen.
Eblen, of course, was anchoring the PFL Pittsburgh main event, opposite UFC vet Bryan Battle, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 29.
Eblen immediately landed a takedown in the PFL Pittsburgh headliner, inside of 30 seconds. Then a second, hoisting Battle up and slamming him down. Then a third! These were violent, offensively-minded takdowns, and when a fourth came, Eblen looked to land punches on the side of the head. When Battle got back up, there was a knee waiting for him, and Eblen remained all over him.
Battle was getting his head rattled and his chin tested. Any time he was on the feet, he was eating knees. Any time he was on the ground, he was eating punches, though Eblen was warned to watch the back of the head. On what felt like the tenth takedown, Eblen took the back, got the body triangle in place, and slipped under the neck. The rear-naked choke was in tight, and Battle had no choice but to tap.
A statement first-round victory for Eblen, who shakes off the loss of his title to van Steenis and sets up a possible rematch later this year. With Kasanganay poised to face the winner if he doesn’t take a fight in between.
