One of the most dramatic finishes in recent MMA history is getting a sequel.
Professional Fighters League returns to Austin, Texas on July 18, 2026 with a middleweight championship rematch between reigning champion Costello van Steenis and former Bellator king Johnny Eblen.
The event takes place at the Moody Center and airs live on ESPN2, with prelims streaming earlier on ESPN platforms.
Ever since their first meeting ended in shocking fashion, fans have demanded the rematch. Now, nearly one year later, the rivalry returns with the middleweight title once again on the line.
Why Van Steenis vs Eblen 2 Matters
The first fight instantly became one of the defining moments in modern PFL history.
Back in July 2025 at PFL Africa in Cape Town, Johnny Eblen entered as a massive favorite and one of the most respected middleweights outside the UFC. The American Top Team standout had dominated nearly everyone placed in front of him and was widely viewed as the best 185-pound fighter in the PFL system.
For most of the fight, that reputation looked secure.
Eblen appeared headed toward another dominant championship victory before everything changed in the final seconds of Round 5.
With just nine seconds remaining, Costello van Steenis locked in a rear-naked choke and handed Eblen the first loss of his professional MMA career in one of the biggest comeback wins the promotion has ever seen.
The finish immediately sparked debate throughout the MMA world.
Some viewed it as one of the greatest late-fight submissions in recent memory. Others focused on how close Eblen was to escaping with the win before the sudden collapse.
Now, the rematch gives both fighters a chance to settle the conversation.
Johnny Eblen Wants Redemption
For Eblen, this fight is about reclaiming control of the division.
Before losing to van Steenis, the former Bellator middleweight champion had built a reputation as one of the most complete middleweights in MMA. His pressure-heavy style, wrestling, top control, and cardio overwhelmed opponents across multiple promotions.
Even after the loss, many fans still viewed him as one of the best fighters outside the UFC.
Since then, Eblen rebounded with a dominant first-round submission victory over UFC veteran Bryan Battle, immediately re-establishing himself as the division’s top contender.
After the win, Eblen made it clear what he wanted next:
The rematch.
Costello van Steenis Is Fighting for Validation
While Eblen wants revenge, van Steenis enters the fight chasing validation.
Critics spent months questioning whether his title victory was simply the result of a last-second opening rather than proof he was truly the better fighter.
But the Dutch-Spanish champion answered some of those questions earlier this year when he defended the belt against Fabian Edwards at PFL Madrid.
Van Steenis stopped Edwards via third-round TKO and showed that his championship run was not built off one dramatic moment alone.
Now comes the hardest test possible:
Defeating Eblen a second time.
Why This Is One of PFL’s Biggest Fights of 2026
The rematch has everything MMA fans look for:
- controversy from the first fight
- a shocking finish
- championship stakes
- redemption vs validation
- elite middleweights
- genuine bad blood between competitors
Unlike manufactured rivalries, this storyline developed naturally inside the cage.
That gives the fight a level of tension many rematches never reach.
PFL Continues Building Its Middleweight Division
The middleweight division has quietly become one of the strongest areas inside the PFL roster.
With fighters like:
- Johnny Eblen
- Costello van Steenis
- Fabian Edwards
- Bryan Battle
the promotion has developed legitimate depth at 185 pounds following the Bellator merger.
The rematch in Austin now serves as the centerpiece of that division.
Final Thoughts
Some rematches feel unnecessary.
This is not one of them.
Costello van Steenis vs Johnny Eblen 2 arrives with real stakes, unfinished business, and one of the most unforgettable endings the PFL has produced.
For van Steenis, victory would erase doubts and cement his reign as champion.
For Eblen, it is the opportunity to reclaim the title and prove the first defeat was a momentary collapse rather than a changing of the guard.
On July 18 in Austin, the PFL middleweight division moves forward only after these two settle it inside the cage once again.
