PFL Pittsburgh is official! The first event in the US for PFL will take place from the UPMC Events Center with PFL Pittsburgh. As per a press release: ‘The event is headlined by a middleweight main event, as former World Champion Johnny Eblen squares off against highly anticipated PFL newcomer Bryan Battle. A Middleweight clash takes place in the co-main event as Pittsburgh’s Own Dalton Rosta is set to face former PFL Champion Impa Kasanganay’.
🚨Breaking News@PFLMMA is heading to Pittsburgh!
More matchups & updates to come #PFLPittsburgh@JohnnyEblen @BryanBattle10 @DaltonRosta @kingimpa pic.twitter.com/ekGO8JffVo
— John Martin (@JohnMartinPFL) January 13, 2026
PFL Pittsburgh Announced with Two Huge Fights
In the main event of PFL Pittsburgh, former champion, Johnny Eblen will look to get back to winning ways against promotional newcomer, Bryan Battle.
Last time out, Elben lost his middleweight strap and his undefeated record when he was choked unconscious by Costello van Steenis in South Africa. Prior to that, however, he had been dominant in every fight he’d had. His wrestling-heavy heavy controlling style is far from entertaining, and don’t expect him to get any more entertaining coming off a loss.
He’ll have his hands full with Battle in Pittsburgh. The Butcher was cut from the UFC, despite being unbeaten in his last five bouts. He did, however, miss weight multiple times during his UFC tenure. Missing in his last UFC outing, he moved up from welterweight to middleweight and still couldn’t make 185lbs. Since parting ways with the UFC, he’s had two custom rules bouts under the Dirty Boxing promotion, winning twice. Not the greatest preparation for Eblen at PFL Pittsburgh.
The co-main event will see the 2023 light heavyweight tournament champion, Impa Kasanganay, look to continue his winning ways when he takes on Pittsburgh’s own, Dalton Rosa. Hercules will look to return to winning ways after losing via brutal knockout last time out against Fabian Edwards in the tournament final.
The co-main also has the caveat of pitching two of South Florida’s best gyms against each other with Rosa fighting out of American Top Team and Kasanganay repping Kill Cliff.
