It looks like Johnny Eblen might get his wish after all, but it might not play out the way he imagines, at least according to Costello Van Steenis.
Eblen (17-1) has been campaigning for a chance to reclaim his PFL middleweight title ever since he lost it to van Steenis (18-3) in July 2025. However, he didn’t get a chance to do so in an immediate rematch and instead was matched up with former UFC fighter Bryan Battle, whom he beat last month at PFL Pittsburgh. Now with a win in hand, Eblen called again for a shot at van Steenis, who’s keen on running things back.
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“He had an incredible win,” van Steenis told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. “It was impressive. He fought a guy who was in the UFC with a good record. I’m happy because we were able to show that PFL is also at the top. You put the top five of the UFC against the top five of the PFL, and you’ll have many people wide-eyed, thinking, ‘Wow. These guys are serious.’ Of course, the UFC has more names; they’ve been around since 1993, but I think we’re showing people (PFL has talent, too). I think my next fight for sure is either going to be against Impa (Kasanganay) or (Johnny) Eblen. Eblen had an incredible win, but Impa also had an incredible performance. I’ve always been a fan of Impa, so I’d like to fight him, too. But let’s see who PFL wants. If I have to fight first Eblen and then Impa, then let’s go. If it’s the other way, let’s go, too. Whatever PFL says.”
Van Steenis won the PFL middleweight title last July by defeating Eblen with a buzzer-beater submission, which won MMA Junkie’s 2025 Submission of the Year and Comeback of the Year. Since then, he’s fought once, completing his first title defense with a KO win over long-time contender Fabian Edwards at PFL Madrid in March.
Van Steenis hopes his next fight is against the American Top Team fighter. He hasn’t liked what Eblen has been saying about their first encounter and would love to prove to him that his win was no fluke.
“I prefer to fight Eblen so I can shut his mouth once again, and get him to be a bit more humble because he talks a lot,” van Steenis explained. “I know this time around I would knock him out. But I also like the fight against Impa because he’s someone new. I’ve never fought him before. If I could choose, though, I would pick Eblen, just so I can shut him up and give him more of that sour taste, like, ‘Hey, I’ve beaten you not once, but twice.’ Like Fabian, I beat him the first time by decision, and the second time I was sure I was going to knock him out, and look what happened. With Eblen, I think it would be much worse.”
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Costello van Steenis wants Johnny Eblen rematch next: ‘He talks a lot’
