PFL Interim Middleweight World Championship set to headline PFL Austin as Johnny Eblen faces Impa\u00a0Kasanganay<\/p>\n
Bantamweights Lewis McGrillen and Rafael do Nascimento compete to announce themselves to the world in the co-main event<\/p>\n
PFL Austin Will Air Live in the U.S. on ESPN2 From 8 p.m. ET\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Tickets Available Through Ticketmaster<\/p>\n
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NEW YORK (July 14, 2026)\u00a0\u2013\u00a0Professional\u00a0Fighters\u00a0League (PFL) today announced the full card\u00a0is now complete for Saturday, July 18 at Moody Center in Austin, Texas.<\/p>\n
Former Bellator Middleweight Champion\u00a0#1-Johnny \u201cPressure\u201d Eblen\u00a0(17-1) and 2023 PFL Light Heavyweight Tournament Champion\u00a0#3-Impa \u201cTshilobo\u201d\u00a0Kasanganay\u00a0(20-6) will compete for the Interim PFL Middleweight World Championship in the main event of the evening.<\/p>\n
Eblen is returning from domination over Bryan Battle at\u00a0PFL Pittsburgh\u00a0and\u00a0is\u00a0focused\u00a0on becoming World Champion once again. His revenge over reigning PFL Middleweight World Champion\u00a0Costello van Steenis\u00a0will have to wait, as \u201cThe Spaniard\u201d is sidelined with injury. This sets the scene for the first ever interim world title fight in PFL history as\u00a0Kasanganay, who also won at\u00a0PFL Pittsburgh\u00a0in devastating fashion,\u00a0seeks\u00a0world champion status as well as\u00a0redemption for\u00a0a closely contested\u00a0split decision loss to the American in 2024.<\/p>\n
In the co-main event, two elite bantamweights collide in a classic striker-versus-grappler matchup as 2024 PFL Europe Bantamweight Champion\u00a0Lewis McGrillen\u00a0(12-1) takes on PFL newcomer\u00a0Rafael do Nascimento\u00a0(12-3) following Sergio Pettis’ withdrawal due\u00a0to\u00a0injury.\u00a0McGrillen\u2019s ferocious pressure and striking will meet Nascimento\u2019s wild\u00a0and\u00a0aggressive grappling, with only one man set to stand victorious and announce themselves on the world stage.<\/p>\n
Rounding out the main card are two featherweight bouts sure to keep fans on their feet. Ireland’s\u00a0Caolan Loughran\u00a0(11-3) faces American standout\u00a0Julio Arce\u00a0(21-7), while Peru’s\u00a0#3-Jesus Pinedo\u00a0(25-8-1) squares off against\u00a0America’s\u00a0Joseph Ruquet\u00a0(10-4).<\/p>\n
The\u00a0PFL Austin\u00a0main card will air live on ESPN2 in the U.S. beginning at 8 pm ET. The preliminary\u00a0portion\u00a0will begin at 5:30\u00a0pm ET and can be seen on the ESPN app. Tickets for the event are available now through\u00a0Ticketmaster<\/a>. The full main card can be seen\u00a0below. Updated\u00a0PFL Austin\u00a0Main Card: Interim PFL Middleweight World Championship Main Event:\u00a0#1-Johnny Eblen\u00a0(17-1) vs.\u00a0#3-Impa\u00a0Kasanganay\u00a0(20-6)<\/p>\n Bantamweight Co-Main Event:\u00a0Lewis McGrillen\u00a0(12-1) vs.\u00a0Rafael do Nascimento\u00a0(12-3)<\/p>\n Featherweight Bout:\u00a0Caolan Loughran\u00a0(11-3) vs.\u00a0Julio Arce\u00a0(21-7)<\/p>\n Featherweight Bout:\u00a0#3-Jesus Pinedo\u00a0(25-8-1) vs.\u00a0Joseph Ruquet\u00a0(10-4)<\/p>\n Preliminary Card: Lightweight Bout:\u00a0Biaggio Ali Walsh\u00a0(4-1) vs.\u00a0Gamid Khizriev\u00a0(4-0)<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Flyweight Bout:\u00a0Andrea Vazquez\u00a0(8-3) vs.\u00a0Aleksandra Savicheva\u00a0(7-2)<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Flyweight Bout:\u00a0Mia Grawe\u00a0(3-0) vs.\u00a0Ashley Thiner\u00a0(2-0)<\/p>\n Featherweight Bout:\u00a0Jackson Glass\u00a0(3-0) vs.\u00a0Zak Flessas\u00a0(2-1)<\/p>\n Women\u2019s Flyweight Bout:\u00a0Victoria Alba\u00a0(6-2) vs.\u00a0Borena Tsertsvadze\u00a0(6-1)<\/p>\n ###<\/p>\n
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Moody Center \u2013 Austin, Texas
July 18 | 8 p.m. ET \/ 5 p.m. PT
ESPN2 (U.S.)<\/p>\n
Moody Center \u2013 Austin, Texas
July 18 | 5:30\u00a0p.m. ET \/ 2:30\u00a0p.m. PT
ESPN APP (U.S.)<\/p>\n