2023 PFL mild heavyweight champion Impa Kasanganay isn’t happy and refuses to settle. After claiming PFL gold for the primary time in his profession successful the 2023 season, Kasanganay has rolled on in 2024. Starting his 12 months in a champions vs champions battle in opposition to Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen, Kasanganay delivered regardless of not being on the successful finish of the battle. A really shut battle in opposition to the Bellator champion that some debated the PFL champion received, his confidence and focus by no means wavered.
Kasanganay would then take that very same confidence and focus into the primary spherical of the 2024 PFL mild heavyweight season and get a first-round end over Alex Polizzi, securing six factors to open the season. In a latest interview, Kasanganay mentioned his focus not solely to proceed his successful methods, however to additionally elevate his dominance to a different degree with every efficiency shifting ahead.
Whereas he continues to rack up wins and stay concentrate on the duty at hand, he additionally maintains his need to present again to the following technology. Forward of his battle in Salt Lake Metropolis in opposition to PFL Europe champion Jakob Nedoh, Impa Kasanganay took outing of his battle week to run a boxing class at native Final Fight Coaching Middle in Salt Lake Metropolis. Welcoming a category combined with women and men, children and adults, Kasanganay made it a degree of emphasis to not simply run a few drills and name it a day, he spoke at size about strategies, life classes, and answered all questions introduced to him.
The distinction on this look for the reigning champion is that he wasn’t simply there for a fast photo-op. He put effort and time into coaching the category, taking a respectable curiosity in everybody that attended, regardless of their expertise or age. This wasn’t only a one-off both. Kasanganay mentioned his upbringing and the way combating has modified his life, however as a lot as being a champion issues to him, giving again means simply as a lot, if no more. It’s a credit score to Impa Kasanganay not simply as a fighter, a world champion, however as a person, somebody who needs to hold his legacy lengthy after he’s executed combating, and go away the game higher than when he entered.
Showcasing a person of many abilities inside and outdoors of the cage, Impa Kasanganay additionally spoke about his pursuit of a better training, seeking to earn an MBA and PhD from Harvard Enterprise Faculty. Throughout an interview this week on Sirius XM’s ‘MMA Right this moment’ he opened up on why he’s pursuing the next training and why he needs to do it whereas combating.
“Folks assume that should you’re not solely doing combating, you’ll be able to’t be all the best way in.”@kingimpa explains how he balances combating for @PFLMMA together with his pursuit of an MBA & PhD from Harvard Enterprise Faculty 👏👏 #PFLRegularSeason
Supply: MMA Right this moment w/Din Thomas & @AngieOverkill pic.twitter.com/P2n5cldfA1
— MMA on SiriusXM (@MMAonSiriusXM) June 19, 2024
“I need to try this whereas I’m combating trigger so many let you know that you would be able to’t do it whilst you’re combating. I keep in mind the massive argument final 12 months was folks asking ‘why are you doing this whilst you’re combating?’ I used to be like watch me. Then I acquired the primary the world title, I take a look at it as a problem.”
Making time to additional his training, give again to the neighborhood, coach the following technology, and proceed his combating dominance, Impa Kasanganay defined why and the way he’s capable of steadiness all of it as he continues to progress in his profession.
“Folks assume that since you’re not solely doing combating that you would be able to’t be all the best way in. My final 10 fights, I’ve all the time been about constructing enterprise. I might get up earlier than observe and practice three or 4 purchasers after which I might learn or do one thing. I used to be speaking to my coach earlier than I acquired to Salt Lake Metropolis and he mentioned ‘You’ve by no means missed a observe, you’ve skilled damage, you’ve skilled injured, you’ve skilled sick.’ for me, I get up daily and I like it. I’m excited to go to the health club after which I go away the health club, executed, exhausted. Perhaps my day begins at 4am and ends at 12am the following day however I’m so excited to get again within the health club and spar. To be checked out of combating, no.”
A pacesetter, a motivator, a person targeted not solely on combating however on his life targets exterior of the cage. One who needs to excel in enterprise and in teaching as a lot as he needs to proceed dominating his combating career. Impa Kasanganay isn’t just a person of many abilities, he’s a person who needs to share these abilities and the teachings he’s realized with all these he is available in contact with. That’s the kind of celebrity he’s change into underneath the PFL banner and one that may proudly be represented for what he does exterior of the cage, not simply within it.
