IMPA KASANGANAY was on the receiving finish of probably the most viral KO in MMA historical past – however it was the BEST factor to ever occur to him.

Kasanganay had fought his manner into the UFC via Dana White’s contender collection when he confronted Joaquin Buckley in October 2020.

4

4

And the bout would go down in historical past after the spinning again kick Buckley landed in spherical two was some of the seen of all time.

The beautiful knockout grew to become the UFC’s most-watched Instagram video ever with over 17.8 million views.

Kasanganay was reduce by the UFC two fights and one 12 months later – falling on laborious occasions afterwards.

He determined to stay out of his motor within the automotive park of his gymnasium in Deerfield Seaside, Florida – however it was there the place he plotted a sensational comeback.

As final 12 months, Kasanganay would win the Skilled Fighters League season to turn out to be light-heavyweight champion and a $1million winner.

However greater than something, it meant the American saved a promise he made to his father within the ambulance simply moments after the viral KO.

He advised SunSport: “I believe, ‘Thank God that occurred to me.’ As a result of it actually propelled me like a slingshot. I believe you must personal these moments.

“I’ve had individuals come as much as me and so they say they’d by no means combat once more if that occurred to them, how they would not be capable to take care of it.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS

“I’ve had fighters inform me, ‘How do you watch that and simply look previous it?’ Nevertheless it was how I used to be raised. I might have left the failure personal me however I owned the failure.

“When you personal the failure, you personal the success. I advised my dad within the ambulance, ‘Watch, I will win my subsequent combat.’ And I did. I stated I would find yourself world champion, too.

“I might’ve let nobody see me, I might’ve gone again to work as an accountant, I might’ve modified my identify. I might’ve executed plenty of issues possibly different individuals would do.

“However for what? I’ve just a little brother and just a little sister, in the event that they noticed me stop then to me it might give them the excuse to.”

Kasanganay opted in opposition to transferring again to his mother and father in North Carolina after turning into homeless.

He as an alternative lived out of his automotive to coach day and night time on the Kill Cliff FC gymnasium, the place he was led to the PFL title and $1m prize final November.

Kasanganay, 30, stated: “There’s moments the place I bear in mind sitting within the automotive, journaling.

“Utilizing the lodge wifi throughout the road, waking up early within the morning to hit the gymnasium, having a shower earlier than the group received in.

After I look on it, I am like, ‘Hey, you was sleeping in your automotive and now you are world champion.’ I gained the $1million.

Impa Kasanganay

“They’re all moments in my life the place I am like, thank God I caught with it. And I did not transfer again to North Carolina the place my mother and father are.

“Any time I’ve a problem in life now I at all times recognise that I have been via it earlier than and I can overcome something.

“After I look on it, I am like, ‘Hey, you was sleeping in your automotive and now you are world champion.’ I gained the $1million.

“It retains me grounded and it actually makes me recognize issues.”

Kasanganay gained his two qualifying PFL bouts in 2023 earlier than triumphing within the semis and closing phases.

Now he finds himself in the very same spot 12 months on, difficult for his second $1m PFL prize.

Kasanganay faces Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov on Friday in Saudi Arabia in a bid to retain his 205lb throne.

4

4