I suffered famous KO in failed UFC run – now I’m fighting for a world title and $1 million
Impa Kasangany hopes to finally live down his most famous loss by becoming a world champion and winning $1 million at PFL 10.
Most fans will recognise the 29-year-old as the unlucky fighter who got knocked out cold by Joaquin Buckley's jumping spinning back kick in October 2020.
The shot impressed UFC CEO Dana White, former US president Donald Trump, rapper Kanye West and literally every MMA fan – it also changed Buckley’s life forever.
However, the man on the receiving end of one of MMA’s most vicious KOs ended up on a downward spiral and he was cut by the UFC - but that didn't deter him.
"When I got knocked out by Buckley, I don’t remember what happened,” Kasanganay told MMA Junkie at a PFL media day last month.
“I was just like, ‘What happened? What happened?’ But once I got in the ambulance, my dad was like, ‘Go look at your phone.’
“I watched it, and I was like, ‘Ok, good shot.’ But I came into MMA to become a champion. If that’s the route for me to become a champion, then that’s it.
“I didn’t know then why that happened. I didn’t pray for that to happen, trust me, I didn’t. I was like, ‘OK, cool. How do I rise from this?’
“My dad always told me, ‘In order to know your glory, they first need to understand your story.’
“When people ask me about it, I say, ‘Play that highlight as much as you want. It’s great, credit to him. But the day that I’m champion, play that highlight too.’”
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Kasanganay is just one win away from realising his world-champion dream.
The American fighter, who is the son of Congolese immigrants, has revived his career by winning five consecutive fights under the PFL banner.
On Friday, at the PFL World Championships in Washington, he’ll face 12-1 fighter Josh Silveira in the 2023 light heavyweight final the winner will walk away with a new belt and a massive cheque.
Kasanganay, who will no doubt tell you the belt is more important the prize money, now views his failed UFC run as a blessing in disguise.
He added: “Thank God UFC cut me.”
“It was challenging to get fights there, all my friends were doing well there, great. All the people in the people who I knew in the organization, I love people there too, so nothing against them.
“I’m just happy for me because who knows when I would’ve gotten that $1 million fight or more or less or close to it.
“It’s also [good] too because you get to share that with your coaches and your team and the people who helped you get there and who knows what kind of percentage I get to share with them.
“It’s the overall bigger picture. Man, I’m very, very happy. I enjoyed my time there, and it helped me get better. I’m very, very happy I’m not there anymore.
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“Nothing against them, but I’m just glad I’m at PFL.”
All that's left is to complete that Cinderella story.