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Brett Okamoto, ESPN Staff Writer
LAS VEGAS — On paper, the PFL's light heavyweight division looked like a major weight class heading into the 2024 season, and Friday's results certainly did not disappoint.
Last year's defending champion Impa Kasanganay (16-4) led the way with a first-round KO over Alex Polizzi in the main event of PFL 2 at The Theater at Virgin Hotels. Kasanganay hurt Polizzi several times with punches, but referee Mark Goddard waved them away as Polizzi fell against the cage at 3:29.
In addition to Kasanganay, light heavyweights Rob Wilkinson (18-2), Josh Silveira (13-2), Antonio Carlos Jr. (16-5) and Dobrezhan Yagshimuradov (22-7-1) ) all finished the first round. As a result, after the opening round, five competitors were tied for first place, with all five competitors earning a maximum of six points.
The 205-pound weight class will feature former PFL champions Kasanganay, Wilkinson, Carlos Jr., and former welterweight champion Sadive Sy (16-8-2). Jacob Nedeau, who lost to Yagsim Radov, is the PFL European Champion. Silveira reached the finals in the 2023 season.
There's added intrigue for Wilkinson, 32, who won a PFL championship in 2022 but missed most of 2023 after failing a drug test. Wilkinson defeated Tom Brees by TKO in just 61 seconds, erasing any doubts about how he would fare in his return from a drug suspension. He has won his last seven opponents.
In the lightweight division, fan favorite Clay Corrado (25-12) got off to a good start to the 2024 season with a two-round finish over former Bellator MMA champion Patricky Pitbull. Corrado will enter his second season in a three-way tie for first place with Canada's Michael Dufort (13-4) and former Bellator champion Brent Primus (13-3).
PFL's 2024 season-opening matchup continues next week in Chicago between welterweight and featherweight.
