Preview: PFL 5 2024

Light Heavyweights

Impa Kasanganay (16-4, 6-1 PFL) vs. Jakob Nedoh (8-2, 3-1 PFL)

Since winning the light heavyweight tournament in 2023, Kasanganay’s confidence has become his best weapon. Despite fighting in a loaded division with former tournament winners, he walks with the swagger of a defending champion. Kasanganay displayed this with his first-round destruction of Alex Polizzi in April. Coming off his war with Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen, Kasanganay was unfazed by whatever Polizzi threw his way. He outwrestled the former Big Ten product and soundly knocked him out moments later. Kasanganay once was a fighter who lacked a strength, but he’s quickly becoming a force that can adapt to where the fight takes him. He has shown a willingness to wrestle with experienced grapplers and throw hands with heavy hitters. He’ll certainly have to deal with the latter in this fight. Nedoh butchered the opposition on his way to winning the PFL Europe light heavyweight tournament. The 6-foot-4 giant has a right hand that can tranquilize a man, but in his PFL global debut, he was caught cold by 30-fight vet Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov. Nedoh has the speed and power to hurt whoever he’s matched with, but his style is vanilla and easy to time. If he added fluidity to his game, he could be a problem. Kasanganay needs to give Nedoh the respect he deserves while neutralizing him quickly. Nedoh has never been past the second round, and if he’s forced to wrestle early, his power may not carry into the later rounds. Nedoh’s best shot is to rush Kasanganay early and inflict his power. Kasanganay is tough, but his chin is crackable. The window will be small, however. Kasanagany will keep the fight moving while relying on quick combinations. Once he establishes range, Kasanganay’s superior wrestling could take over. If Nedoh’s untested gas tank fails to hold up, look for Kasanganay to cap off his performance with a late ground-and-pound TKO.

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Collard vs. Burnell
Kasanganay vs. Nedoh
Freire vs. Miranda
Wilkinson vs. Silveira
Yagshimuradov vs. Biyong
Carlos Jr. vs. Polizzi
The Prelims