By the Numbers: Impa Kasanganay vs. Johnny Eblen

Following the Professional Fighters League’s acquisition of Bellator MMA in November, there was speculation that the company would put on a blockbuster champion-versus-champion card in 2024. The organization is now gearing up to set foot in the Middle East for the historic PFL vs. Bellator Champs supershow this Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event will host four championship fights in the heavyweight, middleweight, welterweight and featherweight divisions.

In the co-main event, 2023 light heavyweight tournament winner Impa Kasanganay will face off against undefeated Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen at 185 pounds.

Currently on a six-fight winning streak, Kasanganay made his way to the PFL after going 2-2 in the UFC and has been on a tear in the promotion. “Tshilobo” most recently secured the PFL 2023 light heavyweight championship in a clash against Joshua Silveira in November. Eblen, on the other hand, is undoubtedly one of the most talented middleweights in MMA today. The American Top Team product is the reigning middleweight champion of Bellator MMA and coming off an emphatic third-round knockout of Fabian Edwards at Bellator 299, where he recorded his second title defense.

As Kasanganay and Eblen move closer to their impending showdown, a look at some of the numbers that have accompanied them to this point:

4: Eblen kicked off his professional mixed martial arts career by recording four consecutive victories via finish, all in the first frame.

43: Percent KO/TKO rate for Eblen, who has six such wins on his resume.

7: Unanimous decision victories for Eblen, indicating his ability to embrace the grind and go the distance to walk away with the win.

32: Years of age for Eblen, who was born on Dec. 13, 1991 in Des Moines, Iowa.

8: Kasanganay went on an eight-fight winning streak to kick off his professional MMA career.

5: Round 1 finishes for Kasanganay, highlighting his ability to end fights quickly when he sees an opening.

6: Kasanganay’s middleweight clash against Eblen will be his sixth outing in 12 months.