Johnny Eblen is highly confident that his decisive victory over Bryan Battle has positioned him as the undeniable next contender for the PFL middleweight championship. His previous “buzzer-beater” loss to current PFL 185-pound titleholder Costello Van Steenis in 2025 was widely considered a major upset, making a rematch an intriguing prospect. Eblen was largely dominant throughout that initial fight before the unexpected finish.
At PFL Pittsburgh on March 28th, Eblen secured a first-round submission against Bryan Battle. This event also saw Impa Kasanganay defeat Dalton Rosta, creating another potential challenger in the middleweight division. When questioned about his claim to challenge Van Steenis next, especially after Van Steenis’s emphatic defense against Fabian Edwards at PFL Madrid, Eblen articulated his reasoning:
“I’ve consistently defeated challengers twice. I was leading the current champion throughout our entire fight, only to lose in the final moments. Both Dalton Rosta and Impa Kasanganay have lost to an opponent I’ve beaten twice. Therefore, I am clearly the rightful contender for the title next. I believe I have earned a title shot following this performance.”
Johnny Eblen Seeks Vengeance, Title Reclamation, and Multiple Defenses
While Eblen wasn’t making excuses, he did shed light on the circumstances surrounding his PFL Africa 1 defeat to Van Steenis in Cape Town. The former Bellator MMA champion has previously mentioned experiencing an injury during that training camp, suggesting that perhaps he should have withdrawn from the fight.
When asked if a rematch with Van Steenis, with a fully prepared and optimized Johnny Eblen, would provide a sense of closure, he reflected on the situation:
“Yes, I chose to fight, so no excuses. It happens; I’ve had previous camps with injuries and still came out victorious. Things aren’t always perfect. However, in that particular instance, it felt like a culmination of factors. I was traveling to South Africa, my entire corner couldn’t accompany me because they were cornering Dustin Poirier that same weekend, and I also dealt with a camp injury. It felt like a lot to manage.”
“Absolutely, securing a rematch with a full training camp, hopefully without so many simultaneous challenges, would allow me to get my revenge. Honestly, regardless of who holds the title, the ultimate objective is to reclaim that championship and defend it as many times as possible.”
