By Avenash Ramzan
Brazil-based Guyanese fighter Carlston ‘Mozambique’ Harris will look to make it two in two when he faces Impa Kasanganay of Fort Lauderdale, USA, on Saturday (September 18, 2021) on the UFC Fight Night card.
The two will square off in a Welterweight bout at the UFC Apex in Nevada on the preliminary card, which will get underway at 16:00h Guyana time. The Harris/Kasanganay bout is the third on the card.
33-year-old Harris (16-4 MMA, 1-0 UFC) made a stunning start to his UFC career in May when he picked up a first-round Anaconda Choke Submission of Christian Aguilera, making him just the 19th fighter in UFC history with that finish.
His next opponent, 27-year-old Kasanganay has an MMA record of 9-1, and two wins and a defeat from three UFC contests.
Against Aguilera, Harris won the contest 2:52 seconds into the round at UFC Vegas 26. The former BRAVE CF welterweight champion has finished his past four opponents.
The UFC signed Harris in January 2021, and at that time he was ranked seventh among the 583 active pro athletes in the Welterweight division in Brazil.
Harris trains at the Renewal Fight Team (RFT), in Rio de Janeiro, and prior to his entry to the UFC, he had a career record of 15 wins and four losses, beating seven of his last eight opponents.
Harris has always said it was a lifelong dream of his to enter the UFC, and he is on a mission to fashion to an outstanding career in the sport.
He is confident of adding a second ‘W’ to his UFC record when he steps in the Octagon this weekend.
Kasanganay, meanwhile, took two tries on Dana White’s Contender Series to punch his ticket to the UFC. After a successful debut against Maki Pitolo, Kasanganay was on the receiving end of a highlight-reel knockout courtesy of Joaquin Buckley in October.
But the 27-year-old was able to rebound with a second-round submission of Sasha Palatnikov in April in what was his Welterweight debut.
While Kasanganay has praised Harris, calling him “awesome”, the Congolese-American fighter is optimistic of pulling off a knockout victory come Saturday.
“I watched him in Brave and saw his debut against Christian Aguilera. He is a solid fighter, and I’m looking forward to it,” Kasanganay said of Harris.
“Carlston is a solid fighter. He is crafty, funky, solid grappling. I’m honoured because I’ve always wanted to fight the elite, and I’m on my way. Carlston is an excellent fight, and I’m getting fights to move my career. I’m going to finish this fight, claim victory and impose my will. I believe I will finish this fight with a knockout. Right hand, body shot, or head kick.”
