Reigning PFL champion and former UFC fighter Impa Kasanganay wants a fight with Francis Ngannou.
Last Friday in the PFL World Championship 2023 final, Impa Kasanganay (15-3) earned a unanimous decision victory over Josh Silveira. Thus, the American obtained a fifth victory in the PFL SmartCage, and became the light heavyweight champion, and pocketed the $1 million promised to the winner.
For the rest of his career, Kasanganay has several options. With the purchase of Bellator by the PFL, the man nicknamed ‘Tshilobo’ could face the promotion’s light heavyweight titleholder, Vadim Nemkov, in a champion versus champion fight. On “The MMA Hour,” Impa Kasanganay made another suggestion: a clash against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou (17-3).
“Francis Ngannou, it’s possible, that’s for sure. Ngannou is a warrior. I met him once at the UFC Performance Institute. He is an extraordinary man, he inspires me a lot, he wants to be the best (…) I am not here to measure myself against Ngannou, nor to test myself, nor to try to win. I’m going to go get this victory. I have never been as heavy as 111 kg. He may be bigger, but my heart and my mind, I tell you, I mean it from the bottom of my heart, I will put him out of harm’s way, with all the respect I owe him. »
He continued: “(…) I will happily go anywhere in the world to fight the best of the best. People might think I’m just talking, but that’s not the case. I would do it for free. If Ngannou beats me, let him take my entire purse, I don’t care. I would eliminate it. I’m here to be the best. If I beat him, he will pay me $15 million. I must deserve it. Maybe if I face Nemkov, some heavyweights, Ngannou will say to me: ‘Let’s go!’ I’m going to be the best of the best and that’s it. »
Francis Ngannou is expected to make his PFL debut in 2024. The Cameroonian has just put in a gigantic performance against WBC champion Tyson Fury, and also plans to return to the ring. Elsewhere, Dan Hardy declared what he thinks was the best boxing match for the ‘Predator’.
