Preview: PFL 2024 Season Championships

PFL Light Heavyweight Final

Impa Kasanganay (18-4, 8-1 PFL) vs. Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov (24-7-1, 3-0 PFL)

ODDS: Kasanganay (-164), Yagshimuradov (+124)

No fighter in PFL history has benefited more from the company than Kasangany. After being written off by the UFC, the Kill Cliff Fight Club standout reinvigorated his career and is proof that a fresh start can do wonders. After earning his spot on the global roster via the PFL Challenger Series, Kansanganay willed himself to the championship off a disciplined mindset and fighting style. Now he’s set to defend his title and become the seventh fighter in PFL history to win tournaments in back-to-back seasons. It won’t be easy.

When the season began, Yagshimuridov wasn’t the favorite to win the light heavyweight title. The battle-tested Turk has shared a cage with high-level fighters such as Magomed Ankalaev, Corey Anderson and Karl Abrektsson but was on the losing end in of all three of those fights. He has been finished five times in his career, and while dangerous (13 knockouts), he was written off to be nothing more than a gatekeeper. Then something clicked. Yagshimuradov has been on an absolute tear in his last six fights. Yagshimuradov was written off against 2022 light heavyweight tournament winner Rob Wilkinson but gave him a boxing lesson on the feet. At 35, he’s deceptively quick and explosive and knows how to place his punches. Kasanganay has improved tenfold over the last two years, and at this point in his career, he’s too much for Yagshimuradov. The Turk is a skilled striker with heavy hands, but he has been clipped multiple times, and Kasanganay won’t let him off the hook. The defending champ is too good in the clinch, and his wrestling can take over the fight when needed. This could be a barnburner early, but as Kasanganay settles into the fight, he will begin to wear on his man and inflict much damage. Look for Kasanganay to cement his legacy as one of the best to ever step into the SmartCage with a fourth-round finish.

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Khizriev vs. Loughnane
Ditcheva vs. Santos
Kasanganay vs. Yagshimuradov
Musaev vs. Umalatov
Rabadanov vs. Primus
Goltsov vs. Popov
The Prelims