PITTSBURGH — The Professional Fighters League made its long-awaited debut in “The Steel City”, delivering an explosive night of fights at the UPMC Events Center on Saturday. Fans in attendance were treated to highlight-reel finishes, dramatic battles, and breakout performances across a stacked card.
The evening was headlined by a pivotal middleweight clash featuring former Bellator MMA world champion Johnny Eblen, who entered the cage looking to rebound from the first loss of his professional career.
Johnny Eblen Bounces Back in Dominant Fashion
Eblen wasted little time reminding the MMA world why he remains one of the most dangerous middleweights on the planet. Facing PFL newcomer Bryan Battle, Eblen quickly imposed his grappling and secured a rear-naked choke submission at 4:10 of the first round.
The emphatic victory moves Eblen to 17-1 and places him firmly back in the title picture, potentially setting up a rematch with reigning PFL Middleweight World Champion Costello van Steenis.
Impa Kasanganay Silences the Pittsburgh Crowd
Local favorite Dalton Rosta entered the fight with the support of the Pittsburgh crowd firmly behind him, but it was former PFL champion Impa Kasanganay who delivered the night’s most devastating knockout.
The two middleweight contenders exchanged heavy strikes early before Kasanganay connected with a crushing combination that left Rosta face down on the canvas. The referee stepped in at 3:18 of round one, awarding Kasanganay the dramatic knockout victory.
Ariane Lipski Impresses in PFL Debut
Former UFC contender Ariane Lipski made a strong first impression in her PFL debut, defeating rising contender Sumiko Inaba via unanimous decision.
Lipski showcased sharp striking and composure throughout the fight, consistently finding her range while neutralizing Inaba’s offense across three rounds to earn the judges’ nod.
Alexei Pergande Wins Bloody Featherweight War
One of the most thrilling bouts of the night came in a featherweight showdown between undefeated prospect Alexei Pergande and veteran Julio Arce.
The two fighters engaged in a brutal back-and-forth battle that featured striking exchanges and frantic grappling scrambles. After three action-packed rounds, Pergande remained undefeated by securing a unanimous decision victory.
Lazaro Dayron Stays Unbeaten
Cuban bantamweight standout Lazaro Dayron continued his undefeated run by defeating Jacob Thrall via unanimous decision.
Dayron dominated the contest with relentless wrestling, scoring seven takedowns over three rounds to maintain his perfect professional record.
- Johnny Eblen (17-1) def. Bryan Battle (12-3) – submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:10
- Impa Kasanganay (20-6) def. Dalton Rosta (11-3) – KO, Round 1, 3:18
- Ariane Lipski (18-11) def. Sumiko Inaba (8-3) – unanimous decision
- Alexei Pergande (8-0) def. Julio Arce (21-7) – unanimous decision
- Lazaro Dayron (10-0-1) def. Jacob Thrall (15-8-1) – unanimous decision
- Jack Cartwright (14-2) def. Allan Begosso (10-4-1) – split decision
- Jakub Kaszuba (16-0) def. Natan Schulte (25-6-1) – unanimous decision
- Dakota Bush (16-4) def. Robert Watley (16-4) – KO, Round 1
- Ernesto Rodriguez (11-1) def. Masayuki Kikuiri (11-4-1) – majority decision
- Tatiana Postarnakova (7-0) def. Elora Dana (8-2) – unanimous decision
- Josh Fremd (12-6) def. Jarrah Al-Silawi (21-6) – KO, Round 3, 3:57
- Fred Dupras (10-2) def. Ethan Goss (12-9) – technical submission (guillotine), Round 1, 2:46
Roberto Villa is the CEO, Founder, Executive Writer, and Senior Editor of FightBook MMA. Has a passion for Combat Sports and is also a podcast host for Sitting Ringside. He’s also a former MMA fighter and Kickboxer. He’s also the main photographer for the 4CornersMafia Car Club.
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