\u00a0<\/p>\n
Former World\u202fChampion Johnny Eblen Subs\u202fPFL\u202fDebutant Bryan Battle in First Round\u202fof Main Event\u00a0<\/p>\n
Former Champion Impa\u202fKasanganay\u202fKO\u2019s Pittsburgh\u2019s Dalton Rosta in Co-Main Event<\/p>\n
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PITTSBURGH\u00a0(MARCH 28, 2026) \u2013\u00a0The Professional Fighters League (PFL) made its debut Saturday in \u201cThe Steel City,\u201d where those in attendance at UPMC Center were treated to an incredible night of action.<\/p>\n
In the main event, former Bellator World Champion and No. 1-ranked PFL middleweight\u00a0Johnny Eblen\u00a0bounced back from the first loss of his career with an emphatic first-round submission victory over No. 9-ranked\u00a0Bryan Battle, who was making his PFL debut. With the win, Eblen puts himself in prime position for a rematch with current PFL Middleweight World Champion Costello van Steenis.<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania\u2019s own No. 4-ranked\u00a0Dalton Rosta\u00a0had the entire city of Pittsburgh behind him as he entered the PFL cage against No. 3-ranked\u00a0Impa Kasanganay,\u00a0but the support wasn\u2019t enough to propel \u201cHercules\u201d to victory. The two men exchanged heavy shots, with each landing damaging blows, but in the end it was a pair from Kasanganay that left Rosta facedown, forcing the referee to step in and stop the action.<\/p>\n
In her PFL debut, No. 10-ranked flyweight\u00a0Ariane Lipski da Silva\u00a0took care of business against No. 5-ranked\u00a0Sumiko Inaba, getting the better of the standup exchanges and controlling the pace throughout. Showcasing her sharp striking and composure, Lipski consistently found her range while neutralizing Inaba\u2019s offense, ultimately securing a convincing decision victory.<\/p>\n
A battle between the No. 8 and No. 9-ranked PFL featherweights lived up to the hype, as\u00a0Alexei Pergande\u00a0and\u00a0Julio Arce\u00a0turned the canvas into a bloody battleground, trading shots on the feet and scrambles on the ground throughout. In the end, the surging Pergande earned a unanimous decision victory.<\/p>\n
Proud Cuban and No. 9-ranked bantamweight\u00a0Lazaro Dayron\u00a0remained undefeated with a unanimous decision victory over\u00a0Jacob Thrall, showcasing his wrestling with seven takedowns across three rounds.
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PFL\u00a0Pittsburgh\u00a0Main Card Results:<\/p>\n
#1-Johnny Eblen\u00a0(17-1) defeated #7-Bryan Battle\u00a0(12-3) via submission (rear-naked choke) at 4:10 of round one\u00a0<\/p>\n
#3-Impa\u00a0Kasanganay\u00a0(20-6) defeated #4-Dalton Rosta\u00a0(11-3) via knockout at 3:18 of round one<\/p>\n
#10-Ariane Lipski da Silva\u00a0(18-11) defeated #5-Sumiko Inaba\u00a0(8-3) via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)<\/p>\n
#8-Alexei\u00a0Pergande\u00a0(8-0) defeated #9-Julio Arce\u00a0(21-7)\u00a0via unanimous decisi\u00f3n (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)<\/p>\n
#9-Lazaro Dayron\u00a0(10-0-1) defeated\u00a0Jacob Thrall (15-8-1) via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 30-27)<\/p>\n
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Preliminary Card Results:<\/p>\n
Jack\u00a0Cartwright\u00a0(14-2) defeated\u00a0Allan\u00a0Begosso\u00a0(10-4-1) via split decision (29-28, 27-28, 29-28)<\/p>\n
#5-Jakub Kaszuba\u00a0(16-0) defeated\u00a0#6-Natan Schulte\u00a0(25-6-1) via\u00a0unanimous\u00a0decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)<\/p>\n
Dakota Bush\u00a0(16-4)\u00a0defeated\u00a0Robert Watley\u00a0(16-4) via KO at :34 of round one<\/p>\n
Ernesto Rodriguez\u00a0(11-1) vs. #9-Masayuki\u00a0Kikuiri\u00a0(11-4-1)\u00a0via majority decision (28-28, 29-28, 29-28)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tatiana\u00a0Postarnakova\u00a0(7-0)\u00a0defeated\u00a0Elora Dana\u00a0(8-2)\u00a0via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)\u00a0<\/p>\n
Josh Fremd\u00a0(12-6)\u00a0defeated\u00a0Jarrah Al\u00a0Salawi\u00a0(21-6)\u00a0via knockout at 3:57 of round three<\/p>\n
Fred Dupras\u00a0(10-2)\u00a0defeated\u00a0Ethan Goss (12-9)\u00a0via technical submission (guillotine) at 2:46 of round one<\/p>\n
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UPCOMING PFL SCHEDULE:<\/p>\n
Saturday, April 11 –\u00a0PFL Chicago\u00a0– Wintrust Arena – Chicago, Illinois<\/p>\n
Thursday, April 16 –\u00a0PFL\u00a0Belfast\u00a0–\u00a0SSE Arena Belfast – Belfast, Northern Ireland<\/p>\n
Saturday, May 2 –\u00a0PFL Sioux Falls\u00a0–\u00a0Sanford Pentagon – Sioux Falls, South Dakota<\/p>\n
Saturday, May 23 –\u00a0PFL Brussels\u00a0–\u00a0ING Arena – Brussels, Belgium
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ABOUT PROFESSIONAL FIGHTERS LEAGUE<\/p>\n
The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is a global mixed martial arts organization and one of the world\u2019s leading combat sports properties. PFL produces live, premium MMA events broadcast and streamed to fans in more than 170 countries through an extensive network of international media partners. The organization features a roster of professional fighters\u00a0representing\u00a0the highest levels of international mixed martial arts\u00a0competition.<\/p>\n
Headquartered in the United States, PFL holds events across North America, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, with continued global expansion underway. PFL is backed by leading\u00a0institutional investors and professional sports team owners, reflecting the accelerating growth of MMA as a mainstream global sport.<\/p>\n
For more information, visit\u00a0PFLmma.com\u00a0<\/a>and follow PFL at\u00a0Facebook.com\/PFLmma<\/a>\u00a0and @PFLMMA on\u00a0X<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>, and\u00a0TikTok<\/a>.<\/p>\n