Ali Akbar Rosady
Costello van Steenis, the reigning PFL Middleweight Champion, is preparing for his highly anticipated title defense against Fabian Edwards on Friday in Spain, a rematch he views as an opportunity to solidify his dominance and emphatically quash his challenger’s championship ambitions. While many anticipated a rematch with Johnny Eblen following van Steenis’s spectacular, last-second submission victory that crowned him champion, the PFL has instead slated a return bout with Edwards, whom van Steenis previously defeated via split decision in 2020. The champion, known for his candid assessments, has been vocal about his belief that Edwards, despite his perseverance, will ultimately remain in the formidable shadow of his UFC champion brother, Leon Edwards.
The path to van Steenis’s current reign was punctuated by one of the most dramatic finishes in recent mixed martial arts history. At the PFL Championship Finals in December 2023, van Steenis faced the then-undefeated Johnny Eblen. The bout was a grueling affair, heading into the fifth and final round with the outcome hanging in the balance. In the dying seconds of the fight, with Eblen seemingly on the verge of securing a decision victory, van Steenis executed a flawless rear-naked choke, rendering Eblen unconscious just as the final buzzer sounded. The astonishing come-from-behind victory not only secured the PFL Middleweight Championship for van Steenis but also earned universal acclaim, widely recognized as MMA Fighting’s "Submission of the Year."
"I’ve seen it everywhere," van Steenis recounted to MMA Fighting, reflecting on the viral moment. "I’ve seen GIFs of it, I’ve seen stickers, I’ve seen posters. I even got a poster in Spain – one of my friends gave me a poster with me choking Johnny Eblen out, so it’s there on the wall with our faces. I couldn’t imagine doing it any better. Defending a title in the fifth round, the last 10 seconds, and losing that fight and then winning that fight at the end of the round like that, I believe it’s from a movie. It’s crazy." The dramatic nature of the victory, snatching triumph from the jaws of defeat in the literal final seconds, instantly etched van Steenis’s name into PFL lore and set a high bar for future championship contests.
Given Eblen’s previously unblemished record of 14-0 and the sensational conclusion to their first encounter, a direct rematch for van Steenis’s inaugural title defense seemed almost inevitable. The clamor from fans and pundits alike for Eblen to receive an immediate opportunity to reclaim what he lost was considerable. However, the PFL, known for its dynamic tournament structure and unique fight scheduling, opted for a different narrative. Instead of a direct Eblen rematch, the promotion announced that Fabian Edwards, the victor of the preceding PFL Middleweight Tournament, would be the first challenger to van Steenis’s title.
Related News :
- PFL Europe Set for Blockbuster Lyon Event Featuring Nemkov Heavyweight Title Defense and Cyborg Featherweight Clash
- UFC Fight Night Rio: Oliveira Returns Home to Face Gamrot’s Wrestling Prowess in Crucial Lightweight Clash
- Max Holloway Defiant Following UFC 326 Loss to Charles Oliveira, Promises Strong Return
- Bryan Battle’s Unique Redemption Arc: Undefeated Prior to UFC Release, Eyes Welterweight Return from New Promotions
- Rafael Lovato Jr. Embraces Grappling Future After MMA Retirement, Set for ONE Championship Debut in Tokyo
For van Steenis, the choice of opponent was less about who it was and more about the stylistic matchup. While he was prepared to face Eblen again, he openly admitted a preference for a clash with Edwards. "It’s like give me whoever, but I believe Fabian did have good fights as the tournament champion," van Steenis stated. "He did fight three times, and it’s more than fair enough. Making the tournament champion fight the champion, even though it’s for the third time this guy is getting a shot at the belt. That’s pretty crazy, but it was either Fabian or Johnny Eblen. I didn’t really mind who got who. I just did the social media, and the PFL picked whoever they picked, and they gave me Fabian."
The champion’s preference stems from a tactical perspective. "It was beautiful because the dancing partner with Fabian is a lot better than Johnny Eblen," van Steenis elaborated. "Johnny Eblen is a hard guy to fight because he makes the fight very boring. He wants to take you down and hold you there, and Fabian is more ‘I’m going to hit you, and I’m going to get hit.’" This assessment highlights a crucial difference in fighting philosophies: Eblen’s wrestling-heavy, control-oriented approach versus Edwards’s more striking-focused, aggressive style. Van Steenis, with a professional record of 15 wins, 2 losses, and 1 no-contest, including 8 knockouts and 3 submissions, thrives in stand-up exchanges, making Edwards a more appealing opponent from an entertainment and stylistic standpoint. Edwards, with a record of 12 wins and 3 losses, including 5 knockouts and 3 submissions, is known for his dynamic striking and athleticism.
The upcoming bout marks the second time van Steenis and Edwards will share the cage. Their initial encounter in October 2020 at Bellator 247 was a closely contested affair that ultimately saw van Steenis emerge victorious via a split decision. That fight, a tactical battle fought predominantly on the feet, demonstrated the competitive nature of their rivalry. Leading up to that first contest, there was a palpable tension and a degree of trash talk exchanged between the two middleweights. However, van Steenis notes a marked difference in the pre-fight atmosphere this time around.
"I haven’t heard him talk a lot," van Steenis observed regarding Edwards’s quieter demeanor. "He does respect me a little bit more now, I believe so. If he starts throwing fire, I’ll throw fire back, but I’ve got all the weapons in the world to not only beat him in a fight but even speaking back [to him]." The champion attributes this shift in Edwards’s approach to a growing realization of the high stakes involved in this particular championship opportunity. Edwards has previously contended for major titles, suffering two notable losses to Johnny Eblen in PFL tournament finals (in 2021 and 2022, respectively) where championship belts were on the line. These prior failures, coupled with the split decision loss to van Steenis, mean this upcoming fight represents Edwards’s third attempt to claim a major world title, and potentially his last realistic chance to do so in the near future.
Furthermore, van Steenis believes that Edwards grapples with the immense pressure and legacy of his older brother, Leon "Rocky" Edwards, the current UFC Welterweight Champion. Leon Edwards, with a stellar professional record of 22-3-1 and an impressive 13-fight unbeaten streak, secured the UFC welterweight title in August 2022 with a stunning head-kick knockout of Kamaru Usman. He has since defended his title successfully against Usman in a rematch and most recently against Colby Covington in December 2023. Leon’s accomplishments have solidified his status as one of the elite fighters in the world, casting a long shadow that, according to van Steenis, Fabian struggles to escape.
"This is the third time he’s fighting for a world title," van Steenis emphasized. "There’s only one real world champion in his family, and that’s Leon Edwards. He’s never going to be a world champion. He can’t really say anything. He can only shut his mouth and have his fingers crossed to see if I get some bad luck." This blunt assessment underscores the psychological warfare at play, with van Steenis aiming to not only defeat Edwards physically but also mentally. The narrative of living in a sibling’s shadow is a common theme in sports, and van Steenis is expertly leveraging it to add another layer of pressure on his opponent.
The razor-thin margin of their first encounter in 2020 serves as a significant motivator for van Steenis. A split decision win, while a victory, often leaves a lingering sense of unfinished business and a desire for a more definitive statement. "Back six years ago, we were two kids in the MMA game," van Steenis reminisced, placing their first fight in the context of their evolving careers. "We had some bad vibes, we had some bad history together. I remember him being fast, long reach, and that of course hasn’t changed. He’s a better fighter than he used to be. I’m a lot better fighter than I used to be."
Both fighters have undoubtedly refined their skills and matured as mixed martial artists since their initial clash. Van Steenis, however, is confident that his growth trajectory has far outpaced that of his challenger. "I believe I’ve grown levels way above that he has been growing," he asserted. "I know I’m fighting a different man. He must know – and if he doesn’t, he’s stupid – but he must know that he’s fighting a totally different man. We’re going to show each other on March 20 how much we’ve grown these past couple of years."
The PFL event, set to take place on Friday, March 20th, in Spain, will be headlined by this compelling middleweight championship rematch. For Costello van Steenis, it is an opportunity to validate his title reign, demonstrate his evolution as a fighter, and emphatically prove his earlier split decision victory was no fluke. For Fabian Edwards, it is a chance to finally break through, silence his critics, and step out of his brother’s shadow by claiming a major world title of his own. The clash promises to be a pivotal moment for both men in their respective careers, with high stakes, personal narratives, and a championship belt on the line.
💬 Tinggalkan Komentar dengan Facebook
Author Profile
Latest entries
MMAMarch 19, 2026UFC 325: Volkanovski vs. Lopes Rematch Headlines Sydney Card, Expert MMA Picks Revealed for Key Bouts
MMAMarch 19, 2026Van Steenis Eyes Dominant Rematch Against Edwards, Dismisses Challenger’s Title Aspirations Amidst Brother’s Shadow
MMAMarch 19, 2026NFL Landscape Shifts as Dolphins Release Tagovailoa, Raiders Trade Crosby to Ravens; NHL Deadline Yields Strategic Moves, NCAA Brackets Take Shape
MMAMarch 19, 2026UFC London Readies for Featherweight Title Eliminator as Undefeated Evloev and Murphy Clash, PFL Madrid Kicks Off Global MMA Weekend
rifan muazin
arthur roy sitompul
Anshari Taslim