Eblen was a big part of Sean Strickland’s camp and corner for his fight with Khamzat Chimaev, and got considerable kudos for the work he put in there, including from the two-time UFC middleweight champion himself.

Speaking with Cageside Press as the PFL’s Summer Series kicked off, the former Bellator MMA middleweight champion told us that being part of Strickland’s big night “was just a lot of fun. I felt like I was a part of a sports history moment, especially him being such a big underdog, and Chimaev, everybody kind of counting Sean out. Just being a part of that camp, being a part of that corner and being a part of that night, it was just truly awesome. You don’t get very many nights like that, where you get to experience that.”

Eblen (17-1) was supposed to be fighting Costello van Steenis at the Moody Center in Austin on July 18, only for the current PFL middleweight champ to pull out. Now, he rematches another former foe, Impa Kasanganay. Yet while he wants the belt again, he’s not hyper-focused on van Steenis.

“I just take each and every fight one by one. I know I want to get the belt back, and I want to get that rematch with Costello, but if it doesn’t ever happen, it doesn’t ever happen. I don’t care. At the end of the day I’m a fighter, and I just want to fight want to make money. That’s all I really care about. And also I’m a martial artist, I just want to get better at my craft.”

“I think it’s the best for the company and best for a storyline; for us to have a rematch and for it to happen in this next fight, it would have been huge,” continued Eblen. “Because that’s the rematch everyone’s looking for, it’s the biggest fight you can make outside of the UFC, or the biggest fight you can make in the PFL. But it is what it is. He wanted to push it, so now I’m fighting Impa, and I think that’s the next biggest fight you can make.”

Eblen earned a split decision victory in his first fight against Kasanganay a couple of years back, part of the PFL vs. Bellator head-to-head event. And he sees a path to victory again.

“I’ve just got to fight smart, don’t get hit with his right hand, and mix it up. That’s all I need to do.” Eblen foresees victory regardless of whether the finish comes or not, but believes he can end Kasanganay’s night early. “When I see the finish, I’ll take it.”

Watch our full interview with PFL Austin headliner Johnny Eblen above.

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The night’s anticipated main event is no more, and instead, Eblen (17-1) will take on former PFL season champ Impa Kasanganay at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on July 18, 2026.

Promotion officials announced the change on Friday.

Eblen bounced back from his first and only career loss, to van Steenis last year, in March when he submitted former UFC fighter and TUF champ Bryan Battle inside of a round. The American Top Team standout already holds a win over Kasanganay, after the two faced off as part of February 2024’s PFL vs. Bellator card.

Then representing Bellator MMA, Eblen won the fight via split decision, though the bout is remembered as one of the more even match-ups on the card.

Kasanganay won the PFL season at light heavyweight in 2023, just prior to losing to Eblen. He’s 5-2 since, and coming off wins over ex-UFC fighter Andrew Sanchez, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 23, and Bellator standout Dalton Rosta.

PFL Austin also has its co-main event set, as #1-ranked bantamweight Sergio Pettis (25-8), a former Bellator champ and UFC contender, returns to take on Lewis McGrillen (12-1).

McGrillen is unranked, but was a 2024 PFL Europe tournament winner.

Two other fights are officially announced for the July event: at lightweight, Sergio Cossio (27-12-1) vs. Kolton Englund (15-5), and in the women’s flyweight division, Andrea Vazquez (8-3) vs. Aleksandra Savicheva (7-2).

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Announced by the promotion on Wednesday, the Austin, Texas card on July 18, 2026 at Moody Center will be headlined by champ Costello van Steenis (18-3) taking on Johnny Eblen (17-1) for the second time.

The pair’s first meeting saw van Steenis claim gold, sinking in a rear-naked choke to win via submission late in the fifth and final round. Since that July meeting, van Steenis successfully defended his title against Fabian Edwards, a longtime contender in Bellator and the PFL who won the promotion’s World Tournament last year.

Eblen, who suffered his first and only loss against van Steenis last July, bounced back at the end of March with a submission win against UFC veteran and Ultimate Fighter winner Bryan Battle. Eblen, an American Top Team standout, holds notable victories over Gegard Mousasi, Impa Kasanganay, Fabian Edwards, and others.

Winning the Bellator MMA middleweight title in 2022, he defended it three times before facing van Steenis for the inaugural PFL middleweight championship last year.

“This is the fight that fans have been asking for since the moment Costello secured the rear-naked choke in the final seconds of their first world championship fight,” said PFL CEO John Martin in a press release issued on Wednesday. “There were a lot of opinions about how that fight ended, and both fighters have something to prove. Now we have a massive rematch with everything on the line, validation for The Spaniard, or redemption for Pressure. I can’t wait to see how it plays out on July 18.”

No other fights have been announced for PFL Austin thus far.

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That included middleweight Impa Kasanganay, a former PFL Global season champ, putting away former Bellator standout Dalton Rosta. The knockout came in the opening round, Kasanganay knocking down Rosta then uncorking several powerful punches on the local fighter before the ref could step in.

An emphatic victory for Kasanganay, who puts himself in a great position. Ranked #3 at middleweight, Impa is behind only Fabian Edwards, who just lost a title shot against champ Costello van Steenis, and Johnny Eblen.

Eblen, of course, was anchoring the PFL Pittsburgh main event, opposite UFC vet Bryan Battle, winner of The Ultimate Fighter 29.

Eblen immediately landed a takedown in the PFL Pittsburgh headliner, inside of 30 seconds. Then a second, hoisting Battle up and slamming him down. Then a third! These were violent, offensively-minded takdowns, and when a fourth came, Eblen looked to land punches on the side of the head. When Battle got back up, there was a knee waiting for him, and Eblen remained all over him.

Battle was getting his head rattled and his chin tested. Any time he was on the feet, he was eating knees. Any time he was on the ground, he was eating punches, though Eblen was warned to watch the back of the head. On what felt like the tenth takedown, Eblen took the back, got the body triangle in place, and slipped under the neck. The rear-naked choke was in tight, and Battle had no choice but to tap.

A statement first-round victory for Eblen, who shakes off the loss of his title to van Steenis and sets up a possible rematch later this year. With Kasanganay poised to face the winner if he doesn’t take a fight in between.

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Former middleweight champ (in Bellator MMA) Johnny Eblen looked to bounce back from the first loss of his professional career when he took on the debuting Bryan Battle in the night’s main event. Eblen had fallen to Costello van Steenis for the inaugural PFL middleweight title last year. As for Battle, The Ultimate Fighter 29 winner was returning to MMA for the first time since 2024, when he defeated Randy Brown at UFC 310.

Battle’s UFC run was cut short by multiple misses at the scale, leading the promotion to release him following UFC 319, where he came in at 190lbs for a middleweight fight with Nursulton Ruziboev that was eventually cancelled.

Fighting twice for Dirty Boxing last year, it was back to the cage for Battle, in a big test against American Top Team’s Eblen.

The co-main event in Pittsburgh, meanwhile, had former PFL tournament winner Impa Kasanganay back in action against Dalton Rosta.

Where to Watch PFL Pittsburgh

PFL Pittsburgh takes place at the UMPC Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, March 28, 2026. The main card streams live on ESPN2 in the U.S., with the prelims available on the ESPN app. Full results can be found below.

PFL Pittsburgh: Eblen vs. Battle Results

Main card

Middleweight: Johnny Eblen def. Bryan Battle by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:10
Middleweight: Impa Kasanganay def. Dalton Rosta by KO (punches), Round 1, 3:18
Women’s Flyweight: Ariane Lipski da Silva def. Sumiko Inaba by unanimous decision
Featherweight: Alexei Pergande def. Julio Arce by unanimous decision (29–28, 29–28, 29–28)
Bantamweight: Lazaro Dayron def. Jacob Thrall by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 30–27)

Preliminary card

Catchweight (140lb): Jack Cartwright def. Allan Begosso by split decision (29–28, 27–29, 29–28)
Lightweight: Jakub Kaszuba def. Natan Schulte by unanimous decision (30–27, 29–28, 29–28)
Lightweight: Dakota Bush def. Robert Watley by TKO, Round 1, 0:34
Welterweight: Ernesto Rodriguez def. Masayuki Kikuiri by majority decision (28–28, 29–28, 29–28)
Women’s Flyweight: Tatiana Postarnakova def. Elora Dana by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Welterweight: Josh Fremd def. Jarrah Al-Silawi by knockout (left hook), Round 3, 3:57
Featherweight: Frederik Dupras def. Ethan Goss by submission (guillotine choke), Round 1, 2:46

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Weigh-ins for the PFL’s first visit to Pittsburgh, PA took place on Friday, with middleweights Johnny Eblen and Bryan Battle both making weight for the card’s headliner. Eblen, the former Bellator and PFL middleweight champion, will be looking to rebound from a loss to Costello van Steenis that cost him both his title, and his undefeated record in MMA.

Up against the American Top Team star is Battle, an Ultimate Fighter star who later struggled with his weight in the UFC, leading to an untimely exit. He’s since gone 2-0 under the Dirty Boxing banner, but returns to MMA and goes straight into a high-profile opportunity with the Professional Fighters League.

All fighters successfully made weight for Saturday’s card on Friday morning (Cartweight vs. Begosso was a planned catchweight, as Begosso is replacing Bryce Mitchell on short notice in the fight).

PFL Pittsburgh: Eblen vs. Battle Weigh-In Results

Main Card

Middleweight: Johnny Eblen (185.8) vs. Bryan Battle (186)
Middleweight: Impa Kasanganay (185.8) vs. Dalton Rosta (185.8)
Women’s flyweight: Ariane da Silva (125.8) vs. Sumiko Inaba (124.6)
Featherweight: Julio Arce (146) vs. Alexei Pergande (146)
Bantamweight: Lazaro Dayron (135.8) vs. Jacob Thrall (136)

Preliminary Card

Catchweight (140lb): Allan Begosso (139.6) vs. Jack Cartwright (140)
Lightweight: Jakub Kaszuba (155.4) vs. Natan Schulte (155.8)
Lightweight: Dakota Bush (155.8) vs. Robert Watley (155.4)
Welterweight: Masayuki Kikuiri (169.6) vs. Ernesto Rodriguez (171)
Women’s flyweight: Elora Dana (125.2) vs. Tatiana Postarnakova (125.8)
Middleweight: Josh Fremd (185.6) vs. Jarrah Al-Silawi (185.6)
Featherweight: Fred Dupras (145.8) vs. Ethan Goss (145.8)

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Battle (12-2, 1NC), who was released by the UFC last year despite being on a 4-0, 1NC run, will take on Johnny Eblen (16-1) in the main event of PFL Pittsburgh at the UPMC Events Center in Pittsburgh, PA on March 28, 2026.

Promotion officials announced the booking via press release on Tuesday.

Missouri’s Battle, despite his success, struggled with weight during his UFC tenure, missing twice as a welterweight, then blowing the middleweight limit for a would-be fight with Nursulton Ruziboev at UFC 319. Hitting the scales at 190lbs, a catchweight was initially agreed upon, but the fight was later cancelled.

As for Johnny Eblen, the former Bellator MMA middleweight champion suffered the first loss of his professional career in July, with the inaugural PFL middleweight championship on the line. After a solid start, Eblen was submitted by Costello van Steenis late in the fifth round.

Eblen, who trains with American Top Team, holds wins over Gegard Mousasi, Fabian Edwards, and Impa Kasanganay, among others.

Speaking of Kasanganay, he’ll also be taking part in the PFL Pittsburgh card. Kasanganay (19-6) has been paired up with Dalton Rosta (11-2) in a second middleweight clash that will serve as the night’s co-main event. Rosta will be fighting at home for that one.

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The show marked the debut of PFL Africa, with the undercard dedicated to African talent and the main card doubling as PFL Champions Series 2.  That featured Eblen vs. van Steenis, two Bellator middleweight stars, plus Dakota Ditcheva, the PFL women’s flyweight champ (in a non-title fight), and ex-Bellator featherweight champ AJ McKee.

Where to Watch PFL Africa/PFL Champions Series 2

PFL Cape Town takes place on Saturday, July 19, 2025 at the GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa. The main card streams live on ESPN+, the PFL Africa portion on the PFL App. Full results can be found below.

PFL Cape Town: Eblen vs. van Steenis Results

PFL Champions Series 2 (Main card)

Middleweight: Costello van Steenis def. Johnny Eblen (c) by technical submission (rear-naked choke), Round 5, 4:51 – Middleweight title fight
Women’s Flyweight: Dakota Ditcheva def. Sumiko Inaba by unanimous decision
Featherweight: A. J. McKee def. Akhmed Magomedov by unanimous decision
Lightweight: Makkasharip Zaynukov def. Takeshi Izumi by unanimous decision
Heavyweight: Corey Anderson def. Denis Goltsov by TKO, Round 3, 3:28

2025 PFL Africa 1 (Preliminary card)

Bantamweight: Nkosi Ndebele def. Mahmoud Atef by TKO, Round 1, 4:50 – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana def. Mickaël Groguhe by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) – heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
Bantamweight: Boule Godogo def. Shannon van Tonder by split decision (30-26, 28-29, 29-27) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Heavyweight: Justin Clarke def. Jashell Ticha Awa by TKO (corner stoppage) Round 1, 5:00 – heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
Bantamweight: Karim Henniene def. Asiashu Tshitamba by split decision (30-27, 28-29, 29-28) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Heavyweight: Joffie Houlton def. Abdoullah Kane by DQ (illegal strikes), Round 1, 0:40 – heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
Bantamweight: Simbarashe Hokonya def. Frans Mlambo by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-26, 30-25) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Heavyweight: Abraham Bably def. Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze by KO, Round 1, 4:59 – heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
Women’s Strawweight: Juliet Ukah def. Ceileigh Niedermayr by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

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Headlined by Johnny Eblen versus Costello Van Steenis for the promotion’s middleweight championship, carried over from Bellator MMA, PFL Cape Town also features the return of promotional darling Dakota Ditcheva, the heir apparent to Kayla Harrison in the Professional Fighters League.

With Harrison now a UFC champion and the featherweight division mothballed in favor of flyweight, it’s Ditcheva who is the company’s current “It Girl.” Her 14-0 record with a win last November over ex-UFC title challenger Taila Santos has cemented that.

Weigh-ins for PFL Cape Town take place on Friday, July 18, 2025 – results can be found below.

PFL Cape Town: Eblen vs. van Steenis Weigh-In Results

PFL Champions Series 2 (Main card)

Middleweight: Johnny Eblen (c) (185) vs. Costello van Steenis (184.6) – Middleweight title fight
Women’s Flyweight: Dakota Ditcheva (125.4) vs. Sumiko Inaba (124.6)
Featherweight: A. J. McKee (146) vs. Akhmed Magomedov (145.4)
Lightweight: Makkasharip Zaynukov (155.6) vs. Takeshi Izumi (155.2)
Heavyweight: Corey Anderson (254.6) vs. Denis Goltsov (240.8)

2025 PFL Africa 1 (Preliminary card)

Bantamweight: Nkosi Ndebele (135.6) vs. Mahmoud Atef (134.4) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Heavyweight: Maxwell Djantou Nana (264.2) vs. Mickaël Groguhe (265.2) – heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
Bantamweight: Shannon van Tonder (136.2)* vs. Boule Godogo (135.6) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Heavyweight: Jashell Ticha Awa (261.1) vs. Justin Clarke (239.6) – heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
Bantamweight: Asiashu Tshitamba (136) vs. Karim Henniene (135.8) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Heavyweight: Abdoullah Kane (264.2) vs. Joffie Houlton (262) – heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
Bantamweight: Frans Mlambo (135) vs. Simbarashe Hokonya (135.8) – bantamweight tournament quarterfinal
Heavyweight: Paul-Emmanuel Gnaze (251.2) vs. Abraham Bably (254.6) – heavyweight tournament quarterfinal
Women’s Strawweight: Juliet Ukah (115.2) vs. Ceileigh Niedermayr (115.4)

* Van Tonder missed the bantamweight limit by 0.2lbs, will be fined a percentage of his purse, fight moves forward.

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The date puts the event on the same day as UFC 318 which features Max Holloway and Dustin Poirier fighting for the BMF belt. Also taking place that night Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will run it back for the heavyweight title.

Also taking place on July 19 will be the return of Manny Pacquiao as he challenges for Mario Barrios’s WBC welterweight title.

With so many combat sports events on the same date it’s puzzling as to why the promotion made the move. No reason has been given as of yet.

The PFL’s inaugural venture into Africa has been the focus of co-founder Donn Davis since they formed the league and named heavyweight Francis Ngannou as chairman. 32 fighters from 15 African nations will take part on the card.

The main event features Johnny Eblen defending his middleweight title against Costello Van Steenis. In the co-main event the PFL’s biggest star Dakota Ditcheva will face Sumiko Inaba in a flyweight bout.

 

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PFL Africa 1 will take place in Goodwood, Cape Town at the Grand Arena in GrandWest Casino And Entertainment World on July 19. It will be broadcast ESPN+ in the states.

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