Johnny Eblen: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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PFL CEO John Martin has declared the postponed Johnny Eblen vs. Costello van Steenis rematch the biggest fight in the promotion's history. Speaking in

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / July 29

Battle On Divorce, UFC Release Hurting PFL Prep

Bryan Battle was mentally scattered heading into his Professional Fighters League debut against Johnny Eblen, and the result showed. Battle absorbed a first-round submission loss in Pittsburgh this past March, tapping to a face crank after repeated slams from Eblen.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / July 23

Johnny Eblen explains why he’s open to fighting teammate Sean Strickland in potential future clash

Johnny Eblen is open to one day fighting his teammate Sean Strickland. This past Saturday, Johnny Eblen won the PFL interim middleweight title when he knocked out former UFC star Impa Kasanganay in the third round.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / July 21

PFL's resurgence hits wall: Strong roster, no audience

Professional Fighters League is putting on some of the best shows of its existence, and almost nobody knows it. Since ousting founder Don Davis last year, PFL has quietly assembled a legitimately strong roster and delivered consistent action, MMA Mania reports.

MMA News / MyMMANews.com / July 19

Johnny Eblen becomes Interim Middleweight World Champion at PFL Austin

PFL Austin has culminated at the Moody Center after an evening of elite mixed martial arts. #IC Johnny Eblen (18-1) became the PFL Interim Middleweight World Champion in the main event at PFL Austin after closing the rivalry with #3 Impa “Tshilobo” Kasanganay (20-7) as he landed big punches to score a thrilling third round knockout.

MMA News / MMA Weekly / July 18

PFL Austin results: Johnny Eblen wins interim title with KO finish

Johnny “Pressure” Eblen became the PFL Interim Middleweight World Champion in the main event at PFL Austin after closing the rivalry with Impa “Tshilobo” Kasanganay as he landed big punches to score a thrilling third round knockout.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / July 17

Impa Kasanganay already calls himself PFL champion ahead of Eblen rematch

Impa Kasanganay changed his Instagram bio to list himself as world champion weeks before he steps into the cage at PFL Austin on July 18 to face Johnny Eblen for the interim middleweight belt, but the move has nothing to do with arrogance.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / July 17

PFL Austin weigh-in results: Eblen-Kasanganay set, Pinedo misses

Johnny Eblen and Impa Kasanganay officially weighed in Friday for their interim PFL middleweight championship rematch at PFL Austin, with Eblen tipping the scale at 184.2 pounds and Kasanganay at 183 pounds, per Sherdog.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / July 17

Boxing & UFC this weekend (17 July–19 July 2026): every fight, time and channel

It's a busy weekend in combat sports — 8 cards between Friday and Sunday, headlined by Costello van Steenis vs Johnny Eblen. Here's every fight, what time it starts, and where to watch in the UK and US.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / July 15

PFL Austin fight card: Eblen vs Kasanganay 2 start time on ESPN

Johnny Eblen will run back his win over Impa Kasanganay when PFL Austin hits the Moody Center on Saturday night. The middleweight rematch tops a nine-fight card streaming on ESPN, per MMA Mania, with the main event expected around 10 p.m.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / July 3

Impa Kasanganay: PFL has best middleweights in MMA

Impa Kasanganay believes the PFL has assembled the best middleweight roster in mixed martial arts. The former UFC fighter faces Johnny Eblen for the promotion's first-ever interim 185-pound title at PFL Austin on July 18, and he told reporters this week that his division's top tier matches up with any organisation in the world.

MMA News / BoxingNews.com / July 1

Sean Strickland calls for UFC title fight with PFL's Johnny Eblen

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has his sights on a future opponent who does not yet fight for his promotion. Strickland told fans on Instagram Stories that American Top Team training partner Johnny Eblen will capture the PFL middleweight title, jump to the UFC, and then face him for the belt.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / June 30

Sean Strickland vows to fight key sparring partner Johnny Eblen for UFC title after he reclaims PFL belt

Sean Strickland has told of how he expects to eventually have to fight Johnny Eblen for his world title in the UFC. Eblen has just one loss on his record to Costello Van Steenis, and has been widely considered the greatest fighter outside of the UFC at middleweight.

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MMA News / Bloody Elbow / June 30

Johnny Eblen shares his side of Sean Strickland’s horror injury days before Khamzat Chimaev fight at UFC 328

Johnny Eblen has detailed how Sean Strickland demanded that he spar hard in their ill-fated session that led to a horror injury. Strickland became a two-time middleweight champion by handing Khamzat Chimaev his first defeat at UFC 328 in Newark last month.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / June 25

Johnny Eblen claims he ‘made Dillon Danis quit’ in sparring ahead of Sean Strickland’s UFC title win

Johnny Eblen has declared that he was able to put a stop to Dillon Danis when the pair sparred in New Jersey last month. Eblen was on the East Coast to help Sean Strickland in his final preparations for UFC 328 where he dethroned Khamzat Chimaev.

MMA News / MyMMANews.com / June 17

Bryan Battle Faces Dalton Rosta in a High Stakes PFL Charlotte Main Event

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced three middleweight bouts for PFL Charlotte on Friday, August 7 at Bojangles Coliseum, as several of the division’s top contenders look to strengthen their position in the championship picture.

MMA News / MyMMANews.com / June 5

PFL Austin headlined by interim middleweight title bout – Eblen vs. Kasanganay 2

NEW YORK (June 4, 2026) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) today announced that former Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (17-1)

MMA News / HITC / April 22

Sean Strickland warns UFC to stay away from Johnny Eblen ahead of Khamzat Chimaev fight

Sean Strickland doesn’t want his longtime teammate anywhere near the UFC. UFC 328 is just around the corner, and it’s set to feature a middleweight title bout between Khamzat Chimaev and Sean Strickland.

MMA News / Total Apex Sports / March 29

Bryan Battle’s PFL Return Ends In Defeat Against Johnny Eblen

Bryan Battle’s return to action took a difficult turn as he suffered a decisive loss against former champion Johnny Eblen at the PFL event in Pittsburgh.

MMA News / Bloody Elbow / March 29

Bryan Battle taps out to Johnny Eblen in disastrous first PFL fight since UFC exit

Bryan Battle’s first fight back in the cage since being dumped from the UFC on a five-fight unbeaten streak ended in disaster tonight in Pittsburgh. PFL came to Pennsylvania for a packed show at the UMPC Events Center, and Battle was given the headline slot against former champion Johnny Eblen.

MMA News / Empire Sports Media / July 19, 2025

PFL Cape Town Recap: Costello Van Steenis pulls off miracle finish to dethrone Johnny Eblen

The PFL took center stage this afternoon for their historic card in Cape Town, South Africa. The main event of the evening was a middleweight title fight between Johnny Eblen (16-1) and Costello Van Steenis (17-3).

MMA News / Empire Sports Media / July 17, 2025

PFL Cape Town Main Event Preview: Johnny Eblen – Costello Van Steenis

This Saturday is a truly historic day for the PFL. The promotion will host it’s first African event from Cape Town and they are bringing a banger of a card to South Africa.

MMA News / MMA Knockout On SI / October 14, 2024

(Exclusive) Johnny Eblen Talks Career Plans, PFL Super Fights PPV

Undefeated Bellator Middleweight Champion Johnny Eblen spoke to MMA KO’s Drew Beaupré ahead of his rematch with Fabian Edwards, which will take place on the PPV portion of a huge PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

MMA News / Empire Sports Media / June 19, 2024

Bellator Champions Series London will be headlined by Johnny Eblen – Fabian Edwards 2

The PFL announced two massive Bellator Champions Series events for September in a press release yesterday afternoon. One of the events announced was for September 7th and that’ll feature lightweight champion Usman Nurmagomedov returning to face Alexander Shabliy.

MMA News / Ringside Intel / June 18, 2024

Bellator Books Pair Of September Championship Matches

Bellator Champions Series will feature back-to-back championship matches to kick-start September. The promotion announced plans for events in San Diego and London with the cards airing live on MAX in the United States and DAZN in the United Kingdom.

MMA News / The Takedown on SI / February 24, 2024

Jorge Masvidal Wants Johnny Eblen In The UFC

Johnny Eblen fights Impa Kasanganay in the co-main event of today’s PFL vs. Bellator pay-per-view. Former UFC star Jorge Masvidal feels this will be a one-sided bout in Eblen’s favor.