Kasanganay was the 2023 PFL light heavyweight champ, and had gone to the final in that weight class again last year. With 185 brought in for the tournament this year, he was back down to his old weight class; Edwards, brother of former UFC welterweight champ Leon Edwards, was a former Bellator middleweight title challenger.

Off the opening bell, Kasanganay came out guns blazing, before an accidental clash of heads followed by a clinch. Edwards reversed, Impa would get back in control for a bit, and they’d battle it out along the fence, neither man able to take down the other. Back at center, things would open up a bit, with Fabian Edwards landing a good counter, then firing a front kick to the body. Edwards, however, shot for a takedown that was easily stuffed, leading to another clinch situation. The best moments for Edwards in the opening round came via his elbows, as he stepped into several, proving them to be his best weapon.

Between rounds, the cageside physician took a good look at a cut over Kasanganay’s eye. With the blood not impacting his vision and the cut not particularly deep, the bout was allowed to continue. When it did, Kasanganay clipped Edwards with a right hand inside of a minute, wobbling the Brit. Edwards would survive, however, and a minute or so later, he was the one clipping Impa with a left hand! Kasanganay was rocked, and Fabian Edwards went in for the kill, closing the distance, launching a jump knee, then landing another left and smashing away with punch after punch until the ref was forced to wave off the fight.

Fabian Edwards now moves on to the PFL World Tournament semfinal round, where he takes on Josh Silveira.

Official Result: Fabian Edwards def. Impa Kasanganay by TKO, Round 2, 2:14

The post PFL 3: Fabian Edwards Wobbled, Comes Back to Smash Through Impa Kasanganay appeared first on Cageside Press.

Sy was competing at 205-pounds last season, and called this weight class a “happy medium” in an exclusive interview with us here at Cageside Press. This was the biggest fight of Rosta’s career facing a former world champion for the first time.

Round one started with Rosta coming out pushing the pace. Sy decided to retreat and fight off the back foot, flicking a kick to the body and a jab up the middle. Rosta was loaded up like a spring, looking to pounce forward with a big right hand. Sadibou circled the cage and threw a knee up the middle that narrowly missed. Rosta was undeterred and came forward with a clubbing overhand right that missed, but he was able to push Sy up against the fence. After some solid knees in the clinch by Rosta, he controlled Sadibou for an extended period of time on the cage.

With under a minute in the round, Rosta landed a big knee to the body that made Sy wince in pain. Rosta put the pressure on looking for the finish, but Sy used a pletheria of kicks to make his way to the end of the round. Not before Rosta landed a takedown in the final ten seconds and big ground and pound as the bell rang.

A action packed first round that saw Rosta jump ahead in my opinion. In the second Rosta landed some kicks of his own early before pressuring Sy to the fence again. Sadibou answered with a kick to the body but got clipped with an overhand right. Rosta landed another two punches against the fence and dragged Sy to the floor. Landing flush ground and pound, Rosta worked his way into side control where he threatened an Americana submission. Sy was able to get out of that submission attempt but moments latter Rosta would work to the neck of Sadibou and lock in a D’arce Choke submission victory.

This was the biggest win of Rosta’s career and the first submission he has secured. From the beginning of the fight Rosta pressed forward and landed the more significant strikes on the feet and did great work on the ground. A statement win to the rest of the tournament with Dalton as confident as ever heading into the next round. He will face the only man to ever defeat him Aaron Jeffery in the second round. A bad blood matchup that fight fans will not want to miss.

Official Result: Dalton Rosta def. Sadibou Sy by submission (D’arce choke), Round 2, 3:29

The post Dalton Rosta Runs Through Sadibou Sy in First Round of PFL World Tournament appeared first on Cageside Press.

Wilson was coming off an extended layoff due in part to a failed drug test later to be confirmed as a unique case of contamination – from a shared vape pen.

To start the opening round Wilson pressured forward and looked to land a takedown attempt against the cage. Burnell reversed the position and ended up on top landing effective ground and pound. Burnell controlled Wilson against the fence with three minutes remaining in the round, with the clinch work of Burnell looked good.

As the two fighters separated from the cage Wilson caught Burnell with a solid left hook the Denmark fighter didn’t see coming. This shot forced Burnell to retreat as Wilson poured on the volume. Burnell was able to get the fight back to the clinch before getting taken down against the fence with a minute left in the opening frame. A wild opening five minutes saw Burnell start fast, but get rocked and controlled on the ground for the second half of the round. Due to damage the first round looked to go to Wilson.

In the second, Wilson was the aggressor to start securing a takedown in the opening minute. Wilson remained in side control for a considerable amount of time, landing glancing blows in the process. Burnell is known as a solid grappler, but was having a difficult time getting back to his feet. This was turning into a dominant round for Jay-Jay Wilson, who threatened multiple submissions throughout the second and finished with big elbows on top. Possibly a 10-8 round for Wilson depending on the judging. Burnell needed a finish in the third to keep his tournament hopes alive.

Straight away to start the third Wilson again came forward and landed a takedown within fifteen seconds. Wilson remained on top in the full guard position, looking to work the body and head of Burnell. Another lopsided round in favor of Wilson who remained in top control for the entire round. Burnell couldn’t find an answer to get back to his feet and was starting to take big punishment on the ground. Wilson started to pour it on landing viscous elbows to the body and head of Burnell. Veteran referee Brian Miner called a stop to the contest with 18 seconds left in the third round.

This advances Jay-Jay Wilson into the second round of the PFL world tournament, as he is scheduled to face the winner of Marc Diakiese and Gadzhi Rabadanov next. This was Wilson’s fourth win in a row, as he is quickly making a name for himself on the biggest stage of his career.

Official Result: Jay-Jay Wilson def. Mads Burnell by TKO, Round 3, 4:42

The post PFL 3: Jay-Jay Wilson Stops Mads Burnell to Land World Tournament Semifinal Berth appeared first on Cageside Press.

The main event found 2023 light heavyweight champ Impa Kasanganay, who returned to the finals last year, facing off against former Bellator title challenger Fabian Edwards. Returning 2024 lightweight champ Gadzhi Rabadanov welcomed UFC alum Marc Diakiese to the PFL proper (he’d had a single fight under the Bellator Champions Series banner, the short-lived attempt by the PFL to keep that promotion afloat). Ex-PFL welterweight champ Sadibou Sy was at middleweight, taking on the hulking Dalton Rosta, while Bellator alums Jay-Jay Wilson and Mads Burnell faced off.

Longtime PFL fave Clay Collard was also in action on the main card, taking on Bellator vet Alfie Davis. All in all, a very strong card from the PFL, whose first two events of the World Tournament were decimated by injury and weight misses.

All fights (save one) on Friday’s 2025 PFL 3 card were quarterfinals in the PFL World Tournament.

Where to Watch PFL 3

This year’s PFL 3 card takes place on April 18, 2025 at Universal Studios in Orlando, FL. The action gets underway at 5PM ET, 2PM PT, airing live on ESPN/ESPN+ and DAZN. Full results from the event can be found below.

2025 PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards Results

Main Card

Fabian Edwards def. Impa Kasanganay by TKO, Round 2, 2:14
Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Marc Diakiese by knockout (punches), Round 1, 0:32
Dalton Rosta def. Sadibou Sy by submission (D’arce choke), Round 2, 3:29
Jay-Jay Wilson def. Mads Burnell by TKO, Round 3, 4:42
Alfie Davis def. Clay Collard by TKO, Round 1, 2:12

Preliminary Card

Josh Silveira def. Mike Shipman by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Brent Primus def. Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 3, 4:52
Aaron Jeffery def. Murad Ramazanov by split decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)
Antonio Caruso vs. Robert Watley (cancelled) – lightweight World Tournament alternate bout

The post 2025 PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards Full Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Rosta (9-1) last fought in June of 2024, defeating Norbert Novenyi Jr. at a Bellator Champions Series event. That hard-fought battle resulted in a majority decision, though Rosta told Cageside Press that he “didn’t learn anything about myself that I didn’t already know.”

“I had to dig deep for that one, I knew I was able to do it. I got hurt in the last round with an elbow to the back of the head, an illegal shot but I can’t control it. I can’t control whether the ref sees it or not, I can’t control if I get a break.”

The blow came as Dalton was peeling away from a takedown attempt. “It happened twice actually. I can’t control that, it happened, the ref wasn’t going to give me a break if he didn’t see it, and I had to fight through it. Ended up in some bad spots but I was able to survive, and come out of there with the win.”

At Wednesday’s PFL 3 media day, Rosta gave his thoughts on Sy, who claimed PFL gold at welterweight in 2022 and returned to the final in 2023. Now, after a season at 205lbs, Sy moves to middleweight, introduced by the PFL for the first time this year.

“I think he’s a great fighter, lanky, good striker, however there are definitely holes in his game that I can exploit,” noted Rosta. “And I definitely think that my strengths will overcome his weaknesses. And I think that my takedown offense is better than his takedown defense. I think I’m going to go in there and put on a wrestling clinic.”

Rosta’s American Top Team teammate Josh Silveira is also in the PFL World Tournament, but Rosta was clear that should the pair face off, it will be just business.

“It was really my decision at the end of the day. I mean, I talked to my coaches, my manager and stuff about it, but it was my decision. And I wanted to do the tournament. At the end of the day, if me and Josh have to fight each other, so be it. We’re going to be getting paid for it. We beat the sh*t of each other in the gym all the time, so we might as well get paid for it anyway.”

Another fighter in the tournament this year is Aaron Jeffery, who is responsible for Rosta’s only loss as a professional. That’s a fight he would very much like to get back.

“I was hoping I got him first round. I was hoping I got him first round. But I didn’t, but three’s a possibility still I’ll be able to get him at some point still in this tournament,” said Rosta regarding the rematch. “And I just can’t wait.”

Rosta doesn’t want to make any excuses for his only career loss, “but just know if we fight again, it’s going to go completely different, and everybody will know that sh*t was a fluke. Instead of me having to make excuses for myself, they’ll know at the end of the day. The second fight, if we get to fight again, it’s going to be such an ass whupping that there’s not going to be any question at all about the first one.”

Watch our interview with Dalton Rosta above, and his 2025 PFL 3 media day appearance below.

The post PFL 3: Dalton Rosta Sees Holes in Sy’s Game, Wants Aaron Jeffery Rematch appeared first on Cageside Press.

Initially, Primus (15-4) had been scheduled into a rematch with Alexander Shabliy, who beat him back in 2022 as part of the Bellator lightweight grand prix. With Shabliy withdrawing from the fight, Primus instead faces Vinicius Cenci, with little time to make the adjustment. None, really.

“Really no adjustments. I found out less than a week ago that he was backing out or got injured or something. So I haven’t really had time to train for my new opponent, but man, training for Shabliy, I’m ready,” Primus told Cageside Press during Wednesday’s PFL 3 media day. “Shabliy in my eyes was the toughest guy in the tournament, so I trained my butt off and prepared for him. So I feel like if I’m prepared for Shabliy, I’m prepared for anybody. I am ready.”

While Shabliy is out of the tournament, a number of Bellator names remain, including Mads Burnell and Jay-Jay Wilson. But the man Primus will no doubt have his eye on is almost certainly Gadzhi Rabadanov. The pair faced off in last year’s final, with Rabadanov winning the season, championship, and million dollar purse. That’s a fight Primus no doubt wants back, especially due to the circumstances surrounding it.

“Before I fought Gadzhi, I’d torn my knee completely two months before, and I almost cancelled that fight. But I had a surgeon that called me, was like ‘we’ll drain your knee every Friday, we’ll give you plasma shots so you can make it to this fight,'” Primus revealed. He then went into surgery almost immediately after the loss. “Right after Saudi Arabia when I fought Gadzhi and I lost, I landed on Monday and I had surgery Tuesday morning. I pretty much just rested and healed up and I’m good now. I’m so excited. When I fought Gadzhi I couldn’t wrestle, I couldn’t shoot, I couldn’t kick. Man I’m back, I feel great, I’m going to win this tournament.”

“There’s nobody I’d rather fight right now than Gadzhi. I respect him, he’s the champ, he comes from a great champ, he’s the man. But I think I can beat him if I’m healthy and ready, and I’m health and ready and I’m going to win this tournament. And we’re going to go at it again.”

In an earlier interview with Cageside Press, shortly before Shabliy pulled out of the fight, Brent Primus reacted to his old home of Bellator MMA being mothballed, folded into the PFL.

“It’s always sad, seeing somebody that you worked for, whatever, fight for, and especially Bellator, they signed me when I was only 2-0, I only had two professional fights. They signed me, gave me an opportunity, so I’ll always be grateful for that. But things happen for a reason,” stated Primus. “Now I’m fighting for PFL, I love PFL, I love the platform and everything. It is what it is. I had a good time for Bellator for sure, obviously I fought at Madison Square Garden, won the title there, I fought Benson Henderson. But things change, and here we are. Like I said, I’m excited to fight for PFL, it’s going to be great.”

Watch our interview with PFL 3’s Brent Primus above, and his media day appearance below.

The post PFL 3: Brent Primus “Prepared for Anyone,” Looking for Rabadanov Rematch appeared first on Cageside Press.

With the newly added middleweight division debuting and a strong lightweight field, there’s lots to love on a weekend with no UFC event to distract fight fans. Instead the PFL gets a rare moment to shine, with a top-notch main event between 2023 PFL champ Impa Kasanganay, returning to 185lbs, and Bellator title challenger Fabian Edwards.

Brother of former UFC welterweight champ Leon Edwards, Fabian has long looked to prove that he as well is championship material. Step one of his latest opportunity arrives Friday against the hard-hitting Kasanganay, who has reinvented himself since his UFC run.

Also on the card, former PFL champ Sadibou Sy takes on Bellator standout Dalton Rosta, while Mads Burnell vs. Jay-Jay Wilson pits two Bellator alumni against one another in a promising lightweight fight. 2024 PFL lightweight champ Gadzhi Rabadanov gets former UFC fighter Marc Diakiese, while Brent Primus, the former Bellator lightweight champion, is also in action.

Full results from Thursday’s weigh-in can be found below.

2025 PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards Weigh-In Results

Main card

Middleweight: Impa Kasanganay (185.6) vs. Fabian Edwards (185.6)
Middleweight: Sadibou Sy (185.8) vs. Dalton Rosta (185.6)
Lightweight: Gadzhi Rabadanov (156) vs. Marc Diakiese (155.2)
Lightweight: Mads Burnell (155.8) vs. Jay-Jay Wilson (156)

Preliminary card

Lightweight: Brent Primus (155.6) vs. Vinicius Sacchelli Cenci (155.8)
Middleweight: Josh Silveira (185.6) vs. Mike Shipman (186)
Lightweight: Clay Collard (155.4) vs. Alfie Davis (155.6)
Middleweight: Aaron Jeffery (185.4) vs. Murad Ramazanov (185.2)
Lightweight: Antonio Caruso (155.6) vs. Robert Watley (154.6) – alternate bout

The post 2025 PFL 3: Kasanganay vs. Edwards Weigh-In Results appeared first on Cageside Press.

Announced earlier this year, the fight with Kasanganay was then formally announced as off the card by PFL officials, only to wind up back on the books a short time later. Why? Edwards elaborated on that during Wednesday’s 2025 PFL 3 media day.

“It’s just some visa, my visa delay. I think PFL thought that I wasn’t going to be able to compete, but my manager was able to jump on that and get that sorted out, so yeah we’re back in,” said Edwards (13-4), who anchors the card’s main event. And what a card – with lightweights and middleweights in action, after a couple of weeks where the promotion was struck by withdrawals, PFL 3 in Orlando is its most stacked of 2025 so far.

As for Edwards, who never got to compete in a middleweight grand prix for Bellator, the World Tournament is a huge opportunity. “I’ve always wanted to do a tournament, I’ve always wanted to do one so the fact that PFL have finally brought through the middleweights, I appreciate it. And like I said I’m just happy that they’ve finally done it.”

And should he get past Kasanganay, a former PFL light heavyweight champ, there’s a possible rematch with Bellator champion Johnny Eblen down the road. The pair met last October, with Eblen earning a unanimous decision win over the Brit.

“Yeah that’s how I look at it. Go out there, get three wins in the space of five months, take out some good guys in the division, and then run that one back at the end of the year. Yeah, that’s my plan in my head but like I said, I’m focused on Impa, because he’s the guy in front of me right now.”

Kasanganay remains one of the PFL’s biggest success stories, a UFC castoff who went on to win a title, and million dollars in prize money, headlining events and becoming a feel-good story. When it comes to what he brings to the table, Fabian Edwards is well aware.

“I think Impa’s game is what Impa’s game is. Forward pressure, heavy hands and aggressive,” Edwards observed. “But me and my team did work for that, so I think he’s in for a surprise.”

Watch Fabian Edards’ full 2025 PFL 3 media day appearance above.

The post PFL 3: Fabian Edwards Eyes PFL World Tournament Win, Eblen Rematch appeared first on Cageside Press.

Wilson missed all of 2024 after one of the strangest USADA suspensions ever. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency suspended “The Maori Kid” three months after he tested positive for metenolone and its metabolites in April of 2024, at the start of that year’s PFL season. However, testing proved that he’d been the victim of a contaminated vape pen, after sharing a vape with a non-PFL athlete friend.

Given the extensive testing required, Wilson’s case wasn’t wrapped until earlier this year. He was immediately in the clear to return to action, allowing him to get back to work in the lightweight division as part of the PFL World Tournament.

“Sometimes you just run into bad luck, and I guess it was my turn to have bad luck. But I took that time to improve,” Wilson (10-1) told Cageside Press during the PFL 3 media day on Wednesday. “I was training with some of the best guys in the world helping them all get ready for their fights. I didn’t stop improving the whole time, and you’re going to see a whole different fighter on Friday night.”

Wilson was also a keen observer of the 2024 PFL season, keeping a close eye on the field. As much as the format has changed for 2025 (no more points, a grand prix format, and prize money reduced, though still a solid $500,000 U.S.), he also knew he’d be facing at least some of the names involved upon his return.

“I was definitely watching. I wanted to see, because I knew I was going to be returning, so I definitely wanted to see how the fights were going,” he admitted. As it turns out, the only fighter Jay-Jay Wilson has ever lost to in professional MMA won the season in 2024: Gadzhi Rabadanov.

“Gadzhi definitely went out there last year and performed, so I’m exited to go out this year, get my rematch against him, and take the world title this year,” Wilson exclaimed. First, however, Wilson will have to get past Mads Burnell.

Watch Jay-Jay Wilson’s full 2025 PFL 3 media day appearance above.

The post Jay-Jay Wilson Promises He’ll Be “A Whole Different Fighter” at PFL 3 appeared first on Cageside Press.