Impa Kasanganay Pulls Off Comeback Stoppage In Final Minute

Impa Kasanganay was one of MMA’s greatest stories in 2023, going from sleeping in his car, to Challenger Series winner, to PFL Light Heavyweight Champion. He attempted the success again in 2024 but lost in the final to Dovlet Yagshimuradov. He dropped to middleweight this year but was finished by Fabian Edwards in the first round of the World Tournament.

Andrew Sanchez has an excellent wrestling background, having been a two-time NAIA Champion and four-time NAIA All-American at McKendree University. He then went on to become 2015 IBJJF No-Gi World Champion and gained regional gold at middleweight. Sanchez, who competed in the 2023 PFL season, lost to Sadibou Sy in June 2024.

Which of these two will win tonight’s middleweight contest?

Round 1

Combination by Kasanganay. A pair of left hands from Sanchez. Sanchez level changes and scores a takedown. Sanchez looking to get to the back. Left hands by Kasanganay as he gets to the fence and tries to stand himself up. Sanchez scores another takedown, however. Kasanganay battles back to his feet, but Sanchez still has a hold of him. Elbow by Sanchez on the exit. Sanchez with a jab. Sanchez misses a spinning attack. Front kick by Kasanganay. Round kick by Kasanganay.

Kasanganay flashes the left hook. Right hand by Sanchez to push him back. Left hand lands for Kasanganay, followed by a short-range right. Low kick by Sanchez. Low kick by Kasanganay. Left hand to the body by Kasanganay. Sanchez with a level change; Kasanganay defends but gets hit with a right hand. Right hand lands for Sanchez. Left hand by Kasanganay. Right hand connects for Kasanganay. Clash between both men. Right hand lands for Kasanganay. Sanchez catches a kick. Sanchez goes for a spinning attack, but he goes right into Kasanganay’s right hand! Sanchez goes off balance, but he gets back up and turns Kasanganay into the fence.

Impa Kasanganay caught him off balance 👀

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 21, 2025

Round 2

Low kick by Sanchez. Front kick by Kasanganay. Another kick by Kasanganay as Sanchez throws the left. Another body kick from Kasanganay. Left hands from both men. Sanchez connects with a right hand. Kasanganay lands one of his own. Sanchez lands a counter right. Kasanganay lands a counter combination. Sanchez throws a couple of jabs. Sanchez goes uhnderneath the right hand of Kasanganay and scores a takedown.

Kasanganay gets back to his feet, and he’s trying to separate Sanchez’s hands while Sanchez has him against the fence. Sanchez hits an elbow on the escape. Combination by Kasanganay. Left hand by Kasanganay. Left jabs from both men. Kasanganay fighting cautiously. Sanchez lands a counter right hand. Left jab by Sanchez. Jabs from Kasanganay now, too. Left hand by Kasanganay. Right hand by Kasanganay. Left hand by Sanchez. Sanchez fakes a spinning kick attack. Kasanganay with a small flurry to end the round.

Round 3

High kick from Sanchez is blocked. Kasanganay with a small flurry. Sanchez with a left hand. Kasanganay staves off a level change. Kasanganay throws a high kick. Left hand from Sanchez is blocked. Another left hand by Sanchez. Clinch attempt now, this time with Sanchez’s back to the fence, but that doesn’t last. One-two by Sanchez. Elbow lands for Sanchez. Round kick by Kasanganay. Uppercut by Kasanganay. Left hand by Sanchez. Right hand lands for Sanchez. Sanchez clinches up briefly. Combination lands for Kasanganay. Jabs from both men, with Kasanganay connecting with the right to the body.

Low kick by Sanchez. Kasanganay clinches to counter a level change, but Sanchez connects to break it. Sanchez’s attack puts Kasanganay off balance briefly. Sanchez gets Kasanganay to the fence. Kasanganay breaks it, but not before Sanchez lands a couple of punches upstairs. Left hand by Sanchez. Kasanganay with an elbow now. Left hand by Sanchez. Left hands from both men miss. Sanchez lands to the body again. Kasanganay lands inside with a combination as Sanchez tries to get in. A right hand faceplants Sanchez! Kasanganay is all over him with a flurry. Sanchez tries to get to his feet, but Kasanganay is still on him! The ref stops it!

IMPA KASANGANAY IS BACK IN THE WIN COLUMN! 😱

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— PFL (@PFLMMA) August 22, 2025

Impa Kasanganay with one of the best comebacks we’ve seen in MMA this year!

OFFICIAL RESULT

Impa Kasanganay def. Andrew Sanchez via third-round TKO (punches, 4:31)