Impa Kasanganay Bio
Impa Armand Kasanganay, born on January 17, 1994, is an American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the Light Heavyweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). Fighting out of Deerfield Beach, Florida, and training with Kill Cliff FC, he carries the ring name Tshilobo and has built a reputation as one of the most versatile fighters of his generation. A former UFC welterweight and middleweight competitor, Kasanganay captured the 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Championship and the $1 million prize that accompanied it. He began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2019 and continues to compete at a high level.
Early Life and Background
Impa Armand Kasanganay was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Congolese immigrants. When he was twelve years old, his family relocated to North Carolina, where he eventually attended Providence High School in Charlotte. During his senior year of high school, Kasanganay first took up American football, a sport that helped shape his athletic foundation and discipline.
He continued playing football at the collegiate level, attending Lenoir-Rhyne University, where he competed for the school’s football program. Before fully committing to a career in combat sports, Kasanganay worked as an accountant, having earned an associate degree in Business Administration and Accounting, a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance. His academic background reflects the disciplined mindset he brought with him into mixed martial arts.
Path to MMA
Impa Armand Kasanganay’s transition from football to mixed martial arts began with regional promotions, where he built an early resume. He made his professional debut at 864 Fighting Championship, winning a split decision over Garett Fosdyck. He then rattled off a series of regional victories at Island Fights 53 and 54, King of the Cage, and Legacy Fighting Alliance, showcasing a well-rounded skill set that included submissions and decision wins alike.
His regional success earned him a spot on Dana White’s Contender Series 26 in August 2019, where he defeated Kailan Hill by unanimous decision. Although he did not receive a UFC contract on that occasion, the performance was strong enough to earn a second invitation. On August 11, 2020, he returned to Dana White’s Contender Series 28 and defeated Anthony Adams by unanimous decision, securing the UFC deal he had been pursuing.
Impa Kasanganay Career
Early UFC Career (2020-2021)
Impa Armand Kasanganay made his UFC debut on August 29, 2020, against Maki Pitolo at UFC Fight Night: Smith vs. Rakić, earning a unanimous decision victory. Stepping in as a replacement for Abu Azaitar, he next faced Joaquin Buckley on October 11, 2020, at UFC Fight Night: Moraes vs. Sandhagen. Buckley landed a spectacular spinning back kick knockout in the second round, handing Kasanganay his first UFC loss.
He bounced back on April 10, 2021, at UFC on ABC: Vettori vs. Holland, defeating Sasha Palatnikov via rear naked choke submission in the second round. His final UFC appearance came on September 18, 2021, at UFC Fight Night 192, where he lost to Carlston Harris by technical knockout in the first round. On December 2, 2021, it was announced that Kasanganay was no longer on the UFC roster.
PFL Breakthrough (2023)
Impa Armand Kasanganay launched his Professional Fighters League run by facing Osama Elseady on March 10, 2023, at PFL Challenger Series 15. He won by TKO at the end of the first round, securing a PFL contract in the process. Three weeks later, he defeated Cory Hendricks by unanimous decision at PFL 1 on April 1, 2023.
Stepping in as a replacement in the 2023 season, Kasanganay defeated Tim Caron via arm-triangle choke at PFL 4 on June 8, 2023. He advanced past Marthin Hamlet in the semifinals at PFL 7 on August 4, 2023, winning by first-round knockout. In the final at PFL 10 on November 24, 2023, he outpointed Josh Silveira by unanimous decision to claim the 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Championship and the $1 million prize pool.
2024 Season and Title Defense Run
Kasanganay opened 2024 by facing Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen in a non-title crossover bout at PFL vs. Bellator on February 24, 2024, losing a close split decision. He returned to winning form at PFL 2 on April 12, 2024, stopping Alex Polizzi by first-round technical knockout, and followed that with a second-round TKO of Jakob Nedoh at PFL 5 on June 21, 2024.
In the 2024 Light Heavyweight tournament semifinals at PFL 8 on August 16, 2024, he earned a unanimous decision over Josh Silveira. The championship final on November 29, 2024, at PFL 10, ended in defeat, as Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov knocked him out in the first round.
2025 PFL World Tournament
On January 15, 2025, it was announced that Impa Armand Kasanganay had joined the 2025 PFL World Tournament in the middleweight division. In the quarterfinal at PFL 3 on April 18, 2025, he faced Fabian Edwards and lost by technical knockout in round two. He returned at PFL 10 on August 21, 2025, defeating Andrew Sanchez by technical knockout in the third round.
Driving Style and Strengths
Impa Armand Kasanganay is recognized for a balanced, adaptable style that blends wrestling, grappling, and crisp striking. His comfort in extended grappling exchanges has produced multiple rear naked choke and arm-triangle finishes, while his striking has grown sharp enough to record several TKO victories across the PFL cage.
Notable Events and Milestones
Highlights of Kasanganay’s career include his 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Championship and the $1 million prize, a four-fight winning streak through the 2023 PFL playoffs, and memorable finishes over Marthin Hamlet and Josh Silveira. His dramatic UFC debut win and his crossover bout against Bellator champion Johnny Eblen round out a resume built on big-stage moments.
Impa Kasanganay Career Wins
Across his professional career, Impa Armand Kasanganay has compiled a well-rounded record built on decisions, submissions, and knockouts in equal measure. His victories have come in major promotions including the UFC, the PFL, Eagle FC, and XMMA, with the 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight title standing as the crown jewel of his résumé.
PFL Highlights
Kasanganay’s most significant PFL run came in 2023, when he captured the Light Heavyweight Championship and the $1 million prize. He added further PFL wins over Cory Hendricks, Tim Caron, Alex Polizzi, and Jakob Nedoh, with first-round knockouts against Hamlet and Polizzi standing out as signature finishes.
Other Wins and Performances
Outside the PFL, Kasanganay earned a first-round TKO over Jared Gooden at XMMA 5 on July 23, 2022. In the UFC, his biggest win came via second-round submission over Sasha Palatnikov in 2021, complementing his debut decision over Maki Pitolo.
Impa Kasanganay Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Impa Armand Kasanganay was raised in a household shaped by his Congolese heritage, with his parents having immigrated to the United States before settling in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. His family later moved to North Carolina during his teenage years, where he pursued both academics and athletics.
Personal Life
Impa Armand Kasanganay resides in Deerfield Beach, Florida, where he trains with Kill Cliff FC. He previously trained at Gym-O from 2019 to 2021. Publicly available information about his marital status, spouse, and children has not been confirmed.
2025 Season Performance
Impa Armand Kasanganay entered the 2025 PFL World Tournament in the middleweight division following his 2024 Light Heavyweight final appearance. His first showing at PFL 3 on April 18, 2025, ended in a second-round TKO loss to Fabian Edwards in the quarterfinal, briefly placing his tournament hopes in jeopardy.
He rebounded strongly at PFL 10 on August 21, 2025, stopping Andrew Sanchez by third-round TKO to re-establish momentum. The performance reinforced his standing as a consistent threat in the middleweight bracket and set up additional matchups as the 2025 PFL calendar continued.
Looking ahead, Kasanganay’s blend of grappling pedigree and improved striking gives him a clear path forward in the middleweight field. Continued partnership with Kill Cliff FC and steady performance inside the PFL cage will determine how far he can push in the remainder of the 2025 tournament.