Search form

You are here

  • Home
  • Kasanganay dominates en route to second straight PFL World Championship appearance


Kasanganay dominates en route to second straight PFL World Championship appearance

Impa Kasanganay (left) on his way to victory over Josh Silveira at the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida on Friday night. (Supplied)
Short Url

https://arab.news/6va22

Updated 17 August 2024
Arab News
Follow

Kasanganay dominates en route to second straight PFL World Championship appearance

  • The Light Heavyweights will face off against Dovlet Yagshimuradov for $1m at 2024 PFL World Championship
  • Lightweights Brent Primus and Gadzhi Rabadanov to square off
Updated 17 August 2024
Arab News

HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA: The Professional Fighters League continued the 2024 PFL Global Playoffs on Friday night with four bouts across the Light Heavyweight and Lightweight divisions at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida.

In the main event of the evening, Impa Kasanganay and Josh Silveira battled with a spot in the 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Championship on the line.

After three full rounds, Kasanganay earned the unanimous decision victory and now has the opportunity for a second straight $1 million check and world title belt.

In the co-main event of the evening, Rob Wilkinson earned a unanimous decision victory against Dovlet Yagshimuradov to advance to the 2024 PFL Light Heavyweight Championship, while becoming the first fighter representing Turkmenistan to qualify for the PFL World Championship.

To kick off PFL Playoff action in the Lightweight division, Brent Primus overcame 2023 PFL Lightweight finalist Clay Collard to clinch his spot in the 2024 PFL World Championship via unanimous decision.

Further Lightweight action saw Gadzhi Rabadanov defeat Michael Dufort via second-round knockout, earning a spot in the 2024 PFL World Championship. Rabadanov secured his ninth straight victory and will face Brent Primus for the 2024 PFL Lightweight World Championship.

“Tonight, MMA fans around the world witnessed four remarkable fighters continue their million-dollar PFL dreams,” said PFL CEO Peter Murray. “The 2024 PFL Playoffs have showcased the very best in MMA and we look forward to the third PFL Playoff event on Aug. 23 to determine the remaining matchups in the 2024 PFL World Championship.”

PFL President of Fighter Operations Ray Sefo said: “The PFL provided fans with can’t-miss action in another entertaining PFL Playoff thriller this evening. Congratulations to the four athletes who punched their tickets to the 2024 PFL World Championship.”

Opening the main card, Biaggio Ali Walsh, the grandson of boxing legend Muhammad Ali, returned to the PFL SmartCage for the second pro fight of his budding career against Brian Stapleton. The Las Vegas native showcased his skills and quickly finished Stapleton via first-round knockout just 55 seconds into the fight.

A Bantamweight showcase bout featured Danny Sabatello and the undefeated Lazaro Dayron. The opening frame saw Dayron nearly finish “The Italian Gangster,” but Sabatello used his grappling skills to rebound throughout the bout. In the end, a third-round fence grab by Dayron docked him a point on the scorecards, resulting in a majority draw.

The 2024 PFL Playoff action continues from The Anthem in Washington, DC for the final playoff event on Friday, Aug. 23. Eight fighters across the Welterweight and Featherweight divisions will enter the PFL SmartCage in pursuit of a 2024 PFL World Championship opportunity.

Topics: Professional Fighters League (PFL)

Related

Sport
Ngannou to make MMA return against Ferreira in PFL bout
Sport
Saudi stars Mostafa Nada, Hattan Al-Saif thrill Riyadh crowd at PFL MENA 2

Emotional Kim captures first title in 16 years at LIV Adelaide

Updated 3 sec ago
AFP
Follow

Emotional Kim captures first title in 16 years at LIV Adelaide

  • An “overwhelmed” Anthony Kim outplayed two-time major winner Jon Rahm to capture his maiden LIV Golf title Sunday
Updated 3 sec ago
AFP
ADELAIDE: An “overwhelmed” Anthony Kim outplayed two-time major winner Jon Rahm to capture his maiden LIV Golf title Sunday and first on any tour since 2010 to complete an amazing redemption story.
The 40-year-old American, a one-time alcoholic, fired a nine-under-par 63, surging home with five birdies on the back nine to claim victory in Adelaide by three strokes.
He began the day five behind former world number one Rahm and fellow overnight leader Bryson DeChambeau, but reeled them in at Grange Golf Club with a faultless round.
In front of bumper crowds and a carnival atmosphere, he finished at 23-under, three clear of Spain’s Rahm, who never really got going, mixing two birdies with a bogey in his 71.
American DeChambeau, also a two-time major winner, suffered a horror round with four bogeys in six holes on the front nine to slide down the leaderboard.
He finished tied for third, six off the pace, with Tyrrell Hatton and Peter Uihlein.
Victory capped an incredible comeback by Kim — a Ryder Cup champion, three-time PGA Tour winner and former world number six who retired from golf in 2012.
After battling drug and alcohol addiction and suicidal thoughts, he returned to the sport in 2024 as a wildcard on the Saudi-backed LIV Tour.
He was relegated last season but earned his way back at last month’s LIV Golf Promotions when he claimed one of three qualifying spots.
Kim then got offered a full-time position with Dustin Johnson’s 4Aces GC for the 2026 season when Patrick Reed suddenly quit to play on the DP World Tour.
He paid tribute to his family for helping him through the hard times and to his first win since the Houston Open in 2010.
“It’s been overwhelming,” he said. “But I’m never not going to fight for my family.
“God gave me a talent. I was able to produce some good golf today. I knew it was coming.
“Nobody else has to believe in me, but me. And for anybody that’s struggling, you can get through anything.”
A precocious talent who burst on the scene in 2006, Kim was the spark-plug of the 2008 US Ryder Cup team that beat Europe at Valhalla Golf Club in Kentucky.
He won three PGA Tour titles before his sensational decision to walk away.
“I just want to thank all the people that have supported me when I was not playing well and I was struggling on the verge of never coming back to live,” said Kim, who announced in 2025 that he had been sober for two years.
Kim was coming off his best result in his 25 LIV Golf starts, a tie for 22nd at last week’s season-opening tournament in Riyadh.

Latest updates

Russia says seized a dozen Ukrainian villages in February
Israeli airstrikes kill 9 in Gaza, including tent camp, Palestinian officials say
Emotional Kim captures first title in 16 years at LIV Adelaide
Russia’s Taman port damaged by Ukrainian drone strike
China FM wants to work with Canadian counterpart to ‘eliminate interference’

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2026 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.