EXCLUSIVE: PFL Light Heavyweight Impa Kasanganay Uses Mindset As Winning Tool
Impa Kasanganay was on the wrong end of a now-viral knockout loss against Joaquin Buckley a few years ago, eventually leading to a relatively short UFC stint for the Floridian native.
Three years later and with a fresh start behind him, the 29-year-old has quietly made a name for himself after switching divisions and becoming one of the PFL's rising light heavyweight contenders, as he will compete for the $1 million prize and a world title against Josh Silveira (12-1 MMA, 5-1 PFL) in Washington, D.C., on Black Friday (November 24).
Kasanganay (14-3 MMA, 4-0 PFL) switched to the PFL by betting on himself in March. After his UFC run, he won one fight on the regional circuit before the PFL's interest came along.
Instead of taking the traditional path and immediately entering one of the PFL's regular-season tournaments, Kasanganay chose the more difficult route, as he proved himself to PFL brass by knocking off Osama Elsaidy in the Challenger Series before becoming a full participant.
Kasangany said in an interview with MMA Knockout he needed to rethink his approach to fighting to take his attributes to the next level while learning as he went. Currently training at Kill Cliff FC under the direction of ex-NCAA wrestling champion Greg Jones and long-time Dutch kickboxer Henri Hooft, he said that as a trio, it's a perfect match.
Impa Kasanganay hits the heavy bag during a media session.
PFL
"I still needed training partners who could challenge me and beat me up," Kasanganay said when explaining what his North Carolina training regimen lacked. "And really, like, lead me to a wolfpack, right? And that's something that's really helped me rise and find success in the PFL."
Kasanganay then railed off three straight wins, punching his ticket to the finals with a first-round knockout of Martin Hamlet in August, as Hamlet suffered his first loss in over a year.
While the victory pushed him one step closer to achieving his ultimate goal, Kasanganay said his focus has always been staying in the moment and looking ahead to his next big task or goal.
Impa Kasanganay scores a knockout against Martin Hamlet.
PFL
While the events unfold, it's always onto the next.
"[My training partners] push me to be the best version of myself right away," Kasanganay said. "When you watch my fights and you see the camera feed after, I'm already getting corrections before I even walk out of the cage, which I find is something that has really helped me start thinking of what's best [to further improve upon]."
Besides having a world-class team around him, including names like Robbie Lawler and newly-crowned Bellator welterweight champion Jason Jackson, Kasanganay said his Christian faith keeps him grounded when facing adverse times.
"I walked into a gym, and it kind of reconnected me with the prayers I had as a kid," Kasanganay said. "I always wanted to be born as a warrior. I've always read about gladiators. I've always loved reading different oras in the Bible. That stuff was always intriguing to me, and it just kind of awakened something in my spirit."
Kasanganay said he wants to use his brand to help others, whether with their financial habits, athletic careers, or otherwise. Kasanganay founded "Impa's Refinery," an organization geared toward athletes finding themselves holistically.
"I think MMA is a dark world," Kasanganay said. "I think a lot of people are going through it. I want to be a resource for people to enhance their lives."
As for the fight with Silveira, Kasanganay said the hard work is already done and about executing at the highest level.
"The opponent to me is a blank canvas, right?" Kasanganay said. "Whether they do something, they're a human. They're a man. And like, I respect what he does well. Josh is good in many places, a really good fighter in many places. At the same time, too, I respect him. I'll never underestimate him. And I also won't overestimate him by forgetting who I am."
Kasanganay and Silveira are one of six tournament title fights on Friday night. The prelims begin at 5 p.m. ET on ESPN+, followed by the main card on ESPN+ pay-per-view.
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