I was on the end of the most viral MMA KO of all time and became homeless… now I’m a world champion and a millionaire

The most viral KO in MMA history was delivered to IMPA KASANGANAY, yet it was the best thing that could have happened to him.

Before facing Joaquin Buckley in October 2020, Kasanganay had battled his way into the UFC through Dana White’s contender series.

Buckley’s spinning back kick in round two was one of the most famous ever, and the fight would go down in history.

With more than 17.8 million views, the incredible knockout became the UFC’s most-watched Instagram video ever.

Kasanganay fell on hard things after the UFC cut him after two fights and a year.

In Deerfield Beach, Florida, he made the decision to live out of his car in the parking lot of his gym, but it was there that he planned an incredible return.

Similar to the previous year, Kasanganay would win the $1 million prize and the light-heavyweight title in the Professional Fighters League season.

More importantly, though, it meant that the American fulfilled a pledge he had made to his father in the ambulance shortly after the widely shared KO.

SunSport quoted him as saying: “I think, ‘Thank God that happened to me.'” Since it gave me a slingshot-like boost. Those moments, in my opinion, must be your own.

“People have approached me and said that if something happened to them, they couldn’t handle it and would never fight again.

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‘How do you watch that and just look beyond it?’ I’ve heard fighters say to me. However, that was my upbringing. I could have let the failure control me, but instead I took responsibility for it.

“You own the success if you own the failure. In the ambulance I said to my father, ‘Watch, I’ll win my next fight.’ And I did. I predicted that I would also become a global champion.

“I could have changed my name, returned to my job as an accountant, and kept no one from seeing me. There were many things I could have done; perhaps others would.

“But for what purpose? My younger brother and sister would have a justification to quit if they witnessed me doing so, in my opinion.

After experiencing homelessness, Kasanganay chose not to return to his parents’ home in North Carolina.

Instead, he lived in his car and trained at the Kill Cliff FC facility day and night. Last November, he won the PFL title and received a $1 million award there.

The 30-year-old Kasanganay remarked: “I have memories of sitting in the car and keeping a journal.

Taking a shower before the crew arrived, getting up early to work out, and using the hotel wifi across the street.

“Thank God I persevered through all of those times in my life. Furthermore, I didn’t return to my parents’ home in North Carolina.

“Now, whenever I face a problem in life, I know that I’ve been there before and that I can conquer anything.

“I think, ‘Hey, you were sleeping in your car and now you’re the world champion,’ when I see that. The $1 million was mine.

“It keeps me grounded and it really makes me appreciate things.”

In 2023, Kasanganay prevailed in the semifinals and finals after winning his first two qualifying PFL matches.

Twelve months later, he is still in the same position, vying for his second $1 million PFL award.

In an attempt to hold onto his 205-pound crown, Kasanganay will take against Dovletdzhan Yagshimuradov in Saudi Arabia on Friday.

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