Johnny Eblen is assured that after how he dispatched of Bryan Battle, he’s subsequent up for a shot on the PFL middleweight belt. His buzzer beater loss to present PFL 185 pound titleholder Costello Van Steenis was seen as the largest upset win/ underdog consequence of 2025 and a sequel conflict can be intriguing to many. This contemplating Eblen was seen as profitable a large quantity of the struggle previous to the end.
PFL Pittsburgh not solely noticed Eblen halt Bryan Battle with a submission within the opening stanza of their bout on March twenty eighth, however Impa Kasanganay additionally completed Dalton Rosta in a struggle that might additionally place the subsequent middleweight title challenger within the promotion. When requested pre-Bryan Battle bout why he must be that subsequent individual to problem for Van Steenis’ crown after the emphatic championship protection towards Fabian Edwards at PFL Madrid, Eblen stated [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“I feel simply typically I’ve overwhelmed the challenger twice. I used to be beating the present champ the entire struggle and misplaced in the previous couple of seconds. Dalton [Rosta] and Impa [Kasanganay] have each misplaced to a man I’ve beat twice. I feel I’m clearly the man to struggle for the title subsequent… I feel I’m effectively deserved of a title shot after this.”
Johnny Eblen needs revenge, regaining gold, and a number of other title defenses thereafter
Whereas it didn’t appear Johnny Eblen was couching it in any specific context, however simply telling the fuller story of the primary Costello Van Steenis struggle, the previous Bellator MMA champion has beforehand talked about how he had gotten injured at a sure level within the camp. That possibly a pull out ought to have transpired earlier than that PFL Africa 1 defeat in Cape City to CVS.
When requested if a rematch with somebody like Van Steenis would give him a closure piece when it comes to a totally ready, totally optimized Johnny Eblen competing in that type of a sequel state of affairs for the strap, Eblen acknowledged [via Bowks Talking Bouts],
“Yeah and I selected to struggle, so no excuses. It’s; like I’ve had earlier camps the place I’ve been injured and I got here out and clearly I received. Issues aren’t good on a regular basis, however I feel it was similar to a multiplier of issues. I used to be going to South Africa. My complete nook couldn’t go as a result of they needed to go nook Dustin Poirier the identical weekend. Then additionally I had an damage in camp and I feel it was similar to so much to deal with.”
“Yeah, I feel getting a rematch with a full camp, hopefully not so many issues suddenly and with the ability to get my revenge once more. Truthfully, on the finish of the day, no matter who has the title, that’s actually the tip purpose is to reclaim that title and defend it as many instances as I can.”
