Fabian Edwards didn`t linger in celebration after his emphatic victory over 2023 league champion Impa Kasanganay in the PFL 3 main event held Friday in Orlando.
In a showdown between two acclaimed strikers, Edwards quickly established control, landing sharp inside elbows that repeatedly caught Kasanganay off guard. During one exchange, an elbow from Edwards opened a significant cut on Kasanganay`s face, causing blood to flow visibly.
Medical staff checked the deep gash on Kasanganay`s face between rounds, but the fight was cleared to continue.
While Kasanganay had moments of offense, including a punch after an accidental clash of heads, the two-time Bellator middleweight title challenger consistently found openings to land his best shots. The fight-ending sequence began with a precise jab that clearly stunned Kasanganay, signaling Edwards to advance and seek the knockout.
Edwards followed up with a barrage of punches that sent Kasanganay crumbling to the canvas. The referee stepped in to stop the contest at 2:14 of the second round. After sharing a brief moment with his brother, Leon Edwards, inside the cage, Fabian turned his attention to his next potential opponent, Josh Silveira, who also secured a win earlier in the night.
Reflecting on his win, Edwards stated, “I feel good but the job’s not done. One down, two more to go. I can’t get too happy. PFL you should have brought in elbows a long time ago.”
In the co-main event, 2024 PFL champion Gadzhi Rabadanov extended his dominant run in the lightweight division by quickly dispatching ex-UFC fighter Marc Diakiese in a mere 32 seconds.
The fight barely began when Diakiese attempted a kick that Rabadanov caught, using it to trip his opponent and bring the action to the ground.
On the mat, Rabadanov unleashed relentless ground and pound. Diakiese was overwhelmed and quickly went limp from the powerful strikes, resulting in a stunning knockout victory for Rabadanov. He now moves forward in the PFL tournament to face Jay Jay Wilson in the next round.
Dalton Rosta delivered a statement performance by dominating and eventually finishing PFL veteran Sadibou Sy, advancing in the middleweight tournament. Although Sy is recognized for his striking skills, it was Rosta who landed a hard punch in the second round that ultimately led to the fight hitting the floor.
Rosta consistently attacked with strikes and submission attempts. He spotted an opportunity to secure a D’arce choke, and once the grip was tightened, Sy had no escape and became unconscious, ending the bout.
Jay Jay Wilson secured his spot in the lightweight semifinals with a punishing display against Mads Burnell. While he appeared on track for a unanimous decision victory, Wilson continued to wear down Burnell, eventually trapping him underneath and raining down heavy blows.
With each punch landed, Burnell`s defense faded. Wilson maintained his relentless assault until the referee pulled him off. It was an impressive demonstration of overwhelming pressure from Wilson, who earned the finish late in the third and final round.
In the opening bout on the main card, Alfie Davis surprised multi-time PFL veteran Clay Collard with a perfectly timed spinning back elbow that landed squarely on his head. Collard was clearly rocked but managed to stay upright momentarily despite being briefly knocked down.
However, his ability to continue was short-lived. Davis pursued Collard, landing further punches until referee Blake Grice deemed him unable to continue, stopping the contest at 2:12 of the first round.
Main Card Results
- Fabian Edwards def. Impa Kasanganay via TKO (strikes) — Round 2, 2:14
- Gadzhi Rabadanov def. Marc Diakiese via knockout (ground and pound) — Round 1, :32 seconds
- Dalton Rosta def. Sadibou Sy via submission (D’Arce choke) — Round 2, 3:29
- Jay Jay Wilson def. Mads Burnell via TKO (strikes on the ground) — Round 3, 4:42
- Alfie Davis def. Clay Collard via TKO (spinning back elbow and punches) — Round 1, 2:12
Prelim Results
- Josh Silveira def. Mike Shipman via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
- Brent Primus def. Vinicius Cenci via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 3, 4:52
- Aaron Jeffery def. Murad Ramazanov via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)