PFL star who’s targeting UFC signing tells his current promotion ‘money can only do so much’

Johnny Eblen suggests no amount of money will keep him in PFL

In early June, Eblen discussed details of his PFL contract, revealing that he will be free to explore other options in the first quarter of 2026.

And during a recent interview on MMA Junkie Radio, the American Top Team standout once again suggested there’s little chance of him re-signing with the PFL due to his ambitions of duking it out with the world’s best, who simply aren’t in his current organization.

“It’s tough because I can’t fight those people (the best),” Eblen said. “For me to actually call myself the best middleweight in the world…it’s hard to just lay claim to it when you can’t fight the DDPs of the world, you can’t fight the Khamzat Chimaevs.

“Those are the fights I want. I want to find out. I like my odds and I’d bet on myself. I think I win those fights. But if I can’t make those fights happen, what’s it worth to me to call myself the best in the world?

“They’ve (PFL) been feeding me well. I’ve been happy there. I’m not upset. The only thing that kind of frustrates me is that I’m only able to fight certain people…and the odds of them bringing in people that make sense for me to fight to raise the status of my stock, it doesn’t look super probable.

“That’s where I’m at with my relationship with PFL. I really hope that they do well…they’re a great company…they’ve treated me well…but there comes a point in time where money can only do so much,” Eblen continued. “I want to fight the DDPs and the Khamzat Chimaevs, and they’re not in PFL.”

Johnny Eblen is not even sure what his next PFL fight is for

For now, Eblen will have his sights set on what appears to be one of the final fights he will have under the PFL banner.

Surprisingly, though, the American middleweight isn’t even sure what he’s competing for on July 19.

With the Bellator brand dissolved, some confusion remains over the status of the promotion’s titleholders and the PFL’s plans to introduce true divisional champions in addition to its tournament winners.

That’s left Eblen unsure whether he’s defending or challenging against Costello van Steenis at PFL Cape Town.

“I think I’m PFL middleweight champion? Like, their Champions Series champion. And I’m technically defending that belt, or fighting for that belt? I’m not sure,” he said in the above interview.