Johnny Eblen “I’m Clearly the Guy to Fight for the [PFL] Title Next”

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 most important upset win/ underdog final result of 2025 and a sequel conflict can be intriguing to many. This contemplating Eblen was seen as successful a large quantity of the battle 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 battle 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 mentioned [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“I feel simply normally I’ve crushed the challenger twice. I used to be beating the present champ the entire battle and misplaced in the previous few seconds. Dalton [Rosta] and Impa [Kasanganay] have each misplaced to a man I’ve beat twice. I feel I’m clearly the man to battle for the title subsequent… I feel I’m effectively deserved of a title shot after this.”

Johnny Eblen desires revenge, regaining gold, and a number of other title defenses thereafter

Whereas it didn’t appear Johnny Eblen was couching it in any explicit context, however simply telling the fuller story of the primary Costello Van Steenis battle, the previous Bellator MMA champion has beforehand talked about how he had gotten injured at a sure level within the camp. That perhaps 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 completely ready, absolutely optimized Johnny Eblen competing in that type of a sequel situation for the strap, Eblen acknowledged [via Bowks Talking Bouts],

“Yeah and I selected to battle, 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 gained. Issues aren’t excellent on a regular basis, however I feel it was identical 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 harm in camp and I feel it was identical to so much to deal with.”

“Yeah, I feel getting a rematch with a full camp, hopefully not so many issues all of sudden and having 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.”