VIDEO: Impa Kasanganay ‘Absolutely Murdered’ In Sub-Minute Finish At 2024 PFL World Championship

Turkmenistan now has an MMA world champion after Dovlet Yagshimuradov needed less than a minute to put away Impa Kasanganay and become the 2024 PFL light heavyweight champion. The two brought the action right away with a pair of exchanges. It was in the second, near the edge of the cage, when Yagshimuragdov rocked the […]

Turkmenistan now has an MMA world champion after Dovlet Yagshimuradov needed less than a minute to put away Impa Kasanganay and become the 2024 PFL light heavyweight champion.

The two brought the action right away with a pair of exchanges. It was in the second, near the edge of the cage, when Yagshimuragdov rocked the former UFC fighter and 2023 PFL champ with a couple of counterpunches.

Yagshimuradov then landed a series of uppercuts to drop Kasanganay and put away his hopes of back-to-back titles.

Dovlet Yagshimuradov Finishes Impa Kasanganay In 58 Seconds, Captures PFL Light Heavyweight Championship

Yagshimuradov joined the PFL earlier this year after the promotion’s purchase of Bellator. He reached today’s title fight in Riyadh after wins over Jakob Nedoh, Simon Biyong, and 2022 PFL champion Rob Wilkinson.

Kasanganay, meanwhile, was one of MMA’s top underdog stories of 2023, going from sleeping in his car to defeating Josh Silveira to become PFL light heavyweight champion.

After a competitive loss to Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen this past February, Kasanganay reached the 205-pound final for the second year in a row with wins over Alex Polizzi, Nedoh, and Silveira.

Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov Demolishes Impa Kasanganay in 58 Seconds to Win Light Heavyweight Tournament – PFL World Championship Highlights

Impa Kasanganay vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov - PFL World ChampionshipDovletdzhan Yagshimuradov made quick work of Impa Kasanganay at the PFL World Championship in Riyadh, finishing the former UFC…

Impa Kasanganay vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov - PFL World Championship

Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov made quick work of Impa Kasanganay at the PFL World Championship in Riyadh, finishing the former UFC standout in less than a minute to win the 2024 light heavyweight tournament.

Impa Kasanganay looked to close the distance and exchange early, but it ended up costing him big after Yagshimuradov caught him with a counter-right that staggered the 2023 PFL champion. With Kasanganay compromised, Yagshimuradov let his hands go, lighting up his opponent and making him wilt more and more with each crushing blow.

Before long, Kasanganay hit the canvas and the referee had seen enough, calling for the stoppage less than a minute into the opening round.

Official Result: Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov def. Impa Kasanganay via TKO (strikes) at 0:58 of Round 1.

Check out highlights from Impa Kasanganay vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov at the PFL World Championship:

2024 PFL World Championship Results & Highlights: Khizriev Dominates Loughnane, Ditcheva Stops Santos

The 2024 PFL World Championship took place on Friday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action! This week saw the Professional Fighters League back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to crown its title winners for this year — both PFL Global and PFL MENA — following the conclusion of the regular season and […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship took place on Friday, and MMA News has you covered with all the action!

This week saw the Professional Fighters League back in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to crown its title winners for this year — both PFL Global and PFL MENA — following the conclusion of the regular season and semifinals.

After a set of showcase bouts featuring the likes of Costello van Steenis, Slim Trabelsi, and Mansour Barnaoui, four inaugural kings were crowned as part of the promotion’s Middle East and North Africa expansion.

The main card followed, with six fighters on the global roster walking away with championship gold and $1 million in prize money.

Brendan Loughnane and Impa Kasanganay both failed in their bid to experience that for the second time, with the featherweight suffering a lopsided five-round loss to Timur Khizriev in the main event and the light heavyweight standout falling victim to Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov’s power in under a minute.

Perhaps the most intriguing clash on the lineup came in the co-headliner, meanwhile, as the undefeated Dakota Ditcheva faced the toughest test of her blossoming career thus far. She ultimately followed her PFL Europe success last year with global glory, getting the better of former UFC title challenger Taila Santos in shockingly dominant fashion.

With that said, see below for the full results, followed by all the best highlights.

2024 PFL World Championship Results

PFL World Championship Card:

  • Featherweight Championship: Timur Khizriev def. Brendan Loughnane via unanimous decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva def. Taila Santos via TKO (body punches): R2, 4:41
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov def. Impa Kasanganay via TKO (punches): R1, 0:58
  • Welterweight Championship: Shamil Musaev def. Magomed Umalatov via TKO (punches): R3, 1:44
  • Lightweight Championship: Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Brent Primus via KO (punches): R3, 2:31
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov def. Oleg Popov via submission (triangle choke): R1, 2:51

PFL MENA Championship Card:

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Abdullah Al-Qahtani def. Maraoune Bellagouit via TKO: R1
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Omar El Dafrawy def. Mohammad Alaqraa via KO (hammerfists): R2, 0:57
  • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif def. Lilia Osmani via TKO (knees): R2, 1:37
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb def. Rachid El Hazoume via KO (punches): R1, 1:25
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi def. Georges Eid via unanimous decision

Showcase Fight Card:

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui def. Alfie Davis via submission (rear-naked choke): R3, 3:41
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi def. Abraham Bably via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
  • Featherweight: Gabriel Braga def. Jeremy Kennedy via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj def. Jose Perez via submission (guillotine choke): R3, 1:10
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis def. Joao Dantas via KO (head kick): R1, 0:48

Costello van Steenis Def. Joao Dantas

Asael Adjoudj Def. Jose Perez

Gabriel Braga Def. Jeremy Kennedy

Slim Trabelsi Def. Abraham Bably

Mansour Barnaoui Def. Alfie Davis

Mohsen Mohammadseifi Def. Georges Eid

Ali Taleb Def. Rachid El Hazoume

Hattan Alsaif Def. Lilia Osmani

Omar El Dafrawy Def. Mohammad Alaqraa

Abdullah Al-Qahtani Def. Maraoune Bellagouit

Denis Goltsov Def. Oleg Popov

Gadzhi Rabadanov Def. Brent Primus

Shamil Musaev Def. Magomed Umalatov

Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov Def. Impa Kasanganay

Dakota Ditcheva Def. Taila Santos

Timur Khizriev Def. Brendan Loughnane

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

In the main event. England’s Brendan Loughnane will shoot for his second title in the SmartCage, having previously emerged with gold in his possession at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

To repeat that feat, he must upset the odds to hand 17-0 Russian Timur Khizriev his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts.

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup comes in the co-headliner as another UK standout challenges for season glory. Striking specialist Dakota Ditcheva will get her toughest test to date, with former UFC title challenger Taila Santos marking the latest looking to take her ‘0’ inside the cage.

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

  • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (144.8lbs) vs. Timur Khizriev (144.7lbs)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (124.9lbs) vs. Taila Santos (125lbs)
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (204.6lbs) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (204.1lbs)
  • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (168.8lbs) vs. Shamil Musaev (169.8lbs)
  • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (154.3lbs) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (155lbs)
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (245.8lbs) vs. Oleg Popov (249.5lbs)

PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Maraoune Bellagouit (144.8lbs) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (144.4lbs)
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (169.6lbs) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (170lbs)
  • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif (105.4lbs) vs. Lilia Osmani (108.3lbs)**
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (134lbs) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (134.8lbs)
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (154.6lbs) vs. Georges Eid (155lbs)

Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (153.6lbs) vs. Alfie Davis (155.7lbs)
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (243.5lbs) vs. Abraham Bably (251.8lbs)
  • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (152lbs)* vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (145.9lbs) vs. Jose Perez (145lbs)
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (185.9lbs) vs. Joao Dantas (185lbs)

*Jesus Pinedo missed the featherweight limit by 6 pounds, replaced by Gabriel Braga

**Lilia Osmani missed the atomweight limit by 2.3 pounds, fight to proceed at catchweight of 109 pounds

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

In the main event. England’s Brendan Loughnane will shoot for his second title in the SmartCage, having previously emerged with gold in his possession at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

To repeat that feat, he must upset the odds to hand 17-0 Russian Timur Khizriev his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts.

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup comes in the co-headliner as another UK standout challenges for season glory. Striking specialist Dakota Ditcheva will get her toughest test to date, with former UFC title challenger Taila Santos marking the latest looking to take her ‘0’ inside the cage.

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

  • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (144.8lbs) vs. Timur Khizriev (144.7lbs)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (124.9lbs) vs. Taila Santos (125lbs)
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (204.6lbs) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (204.1lbs)
  • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (168.8lbs) vs. Shamil Musaev (169.8lbs)
  • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (154.3lbs) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (155lbs)
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (245.8lbs) vs. Oleg Popov (249.5lbs)

PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Maraoune Bellagouit (144.8lbs) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (144.4lbs)
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (169.6lbs) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (170lbs)
  • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif (105.4lbs) vs. Lilia Osmani (108.3lbs)**
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (134lbs) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (134.8lbs)
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (154.6lbs) vs. Georges Eid (155lbs)

Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (153.6lbs) vs. Alfie Davis (155.7lbs)
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (243.5lbs) vs. Abraham Bably (251.8lbs)
  • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (152lbs)* vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (145.9lbs) vs. Jose Perez (145lbs)
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (185.9lbs) vs. Joao Dantas (185lbs)

*Jesus Pinedo missed the featherweight limit by 6 pounds, replaced by Gabriel Braga

**Lilia Osmani missed the atomweight limit by 2.3 pounds, fight to proceed at catchweight of 109 pounds

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results! The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA […]

The 2024 PFL World Championship takes place on Friday, and MMA News is here to bring you the official weigh-in results!

The upcoming show takes place Friday, November 29, at the King Saud University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card of global title fights begins at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT, with the MENA championship card and showcase card starting at 9:30 AM ET/6:30 AM PT and 7:15 AM ET/4:15 AM ET, respectively.

In the main event. England’s Brendan Loughnane will shoot for his second title in the SmartCage, having previously emerged with gold in his possession at the conclusion of the 2022 season.

To repeat that feat, he must upset the odds to hand 17-0 Russian Timur Khizriev his first professional defeat in mixed martial arts.

Perhaps the most intriguing matchup comes in the co-headliner as another UK standout challenges for season glory. Striking specialist Dakota Ditcheva will get her toughest test to date, with former UFC title challenger Taila Santos marking the latest looking to take her ‘0’ inside the cage.

2024 PFL World Championship Weigh-In Results

PFL World Championship Card (3 PM ET, ESPN+):

  • Featherweight Championship: Brendan Loughnane (144.8lbs) vs. Timur Khizriev (144.7lbs)
  • Women’s Flyweight Championship: Dakota Ditcheva (124.9lbs) vs. Taila Santos (125lbs)
  • Light Heavyweight Championship: Impa Kasanganay (204.6lbs) vs. Dovletzhan Yagshimuradov (204.1lbs)
  • Welterweight: Championship: Magomed Umalatov (168.8lbs) vs. Shamil Musaev (169.8lbs)
  • Lightweight Championship: Brent Primus (154.3lbs) vs. Gadzhi Rabadanov (155lbs)
  • Heavyweight Championship: Denis Goltsov (245.8lbs) vs. Oleg Popov (249.5lbs)

PFL MENA Championship Card (9:30 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • MENA Featherweight Championship: Maraoune Bellagouit (144.8lbs) vs. Abdullah Al-Qahtani (144.4lbs)
  • MENA Welterweight Championship: Mohammad Alaqraa (169.6lbs) vs. Omar El Dafrawy (170lbs)
  • Amateur Women’s Atomweight: Hattan Alsaif (105.4lbs) vs. Lilia Osmani (108.3lbs)**
  • MENA Bantamweight Championship: Ali Taleb (134lbs) vs. Rachid El Hazoume (134.8lbs)
  • MENA Lightweight Championship: Mohsen Mohammadseifi (154.6lbs) vs. Georges Eid (155lbs)

Showcase Fight Card (7:15 AM ET, ESPN+):

  • Lightweight: Mansour Barnaoui (153.6lbs) vs. Alfie Davis (155.7lbs)
  • Heavyweight: Slim Trabelsi (243.5lbs) vs. Abraham Bably (251.8lbs)
  • Featherweight: Jesus Pinedo (152lbs)* vs. Jeremy Kennedy
  • Featherweight: Asael Adjoudj (145.9lbs) vs. Jose Perez (145lbs)
  • Middleweight: Costello van Steenis (185.9lbs) vs. Joao Dantas (185lbs)

*Jesus Pinedo missed the featherweight limit by 6 pounds, replaced by Gabriel Braga

**Lilia Osmani missed the atomweight limit by 2.3 pounds, fight to proceed at catchweight of 109 pounds