A Matter of Time

March 30, 2026 Ses Stevenson FIGHT FOR IT+

Back on March 17th, 2018, at Fight Lab 58, you had three fighters—Bryan Battle, Impa Kasanganay, and BillyJack Cupp—all sharing the same card, all at very different points in their development. Battle and Kasanganay picked up wins that night, while Cupp took a loss. At the time, it was just another regional show. No one knew they were watching the early chapters of three careers that would keep intersecting years later.

Fast-forward just a few months to June 2018, and the timeline tightens. Battle and Kasanganay meet directly for the Fight Lab Light Heavyweight amateur title—Battle gets the nod by decision. On that same card, Cupp rebounds with a TKO win. That moment matters because it shows all three fighters adjusting in real time—one claiming momentum, one learning through defeat, and one rebuilding. That’s the raw essence of development in a regional circuit.

Now jump ahead eight years later—March 27–28, 2026—and the same names reappear, but on completely different stages.

  • Battle debuts in the Professional Fighters League (PFL), reaching a global platform, even in defeat.
  • Kasanganay scores a highlight-reel KO on that same card—arguably the most emphatic moment of the night.
  • Cupp quietly stacks his 7th pro win at Aries Fight Series, grinding out a decision.

That’s where the timeline becomes special.

Zachary Thrift recently posted: Every fight is a gamble. You are playing odds. The only thing you can do is sway those odds in your favor through training.
Through ups and downs, Bryan Battle became the winner of the Ultimate Fighter.  Through ridicule and defeat, Impa Kasangany became PFL World Champion. As BillyJack is steadily working to make it to the world stage, don’t forget this lesson. As an amateur, he failed to capture a title on his first try, but in his second attempt, he became the Fight For It Lightweight Champion.  Winning is just a matter of time.  Keep Moving!