Costello Van Steenis Wins Middleweight Title In One of MMA’s Greatest Comebacks

A wrestling specialist, having trained in the discipline since the age of 5, Johnny Eblen may be the best 185-pound fighter on the planet. The American Top Team product is a perfect 16-0 who has continued to get better with each performance. Eblen originally won the Bellator middleweight title with a win over Gegard Mousasi and is currently 2-0 in PFL – defeating Impa Kasaganay in a champion vs. champion battle and retaining his title in a rematch with Fabian Edwards.

Van Steenis, a training partner of Mousasi’s – has trained MMA since 18 years old and has been a pro for over a decade now. Van Steenis enters tonight 16-3 in the sport, with 12 victories via a finish. Van Steenis defeated Gregor Babene at the Bellator Champions Series event in Paris last year before a quick head kick knockout of João Vitor Dantas in a showcase bout at the PFL World Championships in November.

Will Eblen keep his undefeated record and his status as an MMA Middleweight World Champion? Or will Van Steenis play spoiler in a major way and become a World Champion?

Round 1

Low kick from Eblen. Van Steenis went to lock up with Eblen, only for Eblen to counter him with his own body lock briefly. Van Steenis with a low kick. Strong one-two from Eblen. Left jab from Van Steenis. Calf kick from Eblen, followed by a combination and level change. Clinch battle against the fence, with both men looking to land inside shots. Eblen is able to lift Van Steenis up and slam him down, getting right into side control. Eblen pressures, hunting for a possible arm-triangle choke while Van Steenis lands elbows to the thigh.

Body shots from Eblen. Van Steenis warned for shots to the back of the head. Eblen tries to open up Van Steenis’ guard. Short elbows to the eye now. Van Steenis rolls but gives up his back, as Eblen gets on it. Eblen rains down right hands to the side of the head. Van Steenis tries to shake Eblen off, but Eblen gets right back on him. Eblen lands some ground strikes, though he’s also warned for shots to the back of the head. Eblen mixing up elbows and hooks. Ref tells Van Steenis to move. Van Steenis rolls through and this time he’s back to his feet. A couple of low kicks to end the round.

Round 2

Van Steenis misses the right hand. Van Steenis with a low kick, trying to get inside. Front kick from Eblen. Eblen shoots in and presses Van Steenis into the fence before taking him down again. Eblen looks to work in the guard. Eblen postures up and lands some strong strikes before Van Steenis tightens his guard up. Van Steenis sitting up against the fence. Eblen lands the left hand. Eblen pulls Van Steenis off the fence and hunts for the choke! Eblen is squeezing but doesn’t have both hooks in. Van steenis escapes and reverses position! But Eblen wrestles his way back to the top!

Left hands landing for Eblen. Van Steenis tries to shake Eblen off but is unsuccessful. Eblen gets to the back again. Eblen landing right hands again. Van Steenis gets Eblen off him. The fight returns to the center. Low kick and a right hand from Eblen. Low kick by Van Steenis. Eblen presses Van Steenis into the fence. Van Steenis gets away. Van Steenis misses a spin attack before the horn.

It's been a grappling match! Who do you have winning? 👀#PFLCapeTown 🇿🇦 | TODAY | Grand Arena, GrandWest | Cape Town, South Africa | 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/qbGtpxvSLn

— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 19, 2025

Round 3

Van Steenis misses a right. Low kick and a right hand by Eblen. Eblen with a right. One-two by Eblen. Right hand by Van Steenis, but he misses a high kick. Eblen with a small flurry, pressuring and forcing Van Steenis into retreat. Van Steenis misses an uppercut. Eblen presses Van Steenis into the fence again. The clinch breaks, but Eblen lands a strong knee. Low kick by Van Steenis. Combination by Van Steenis and a pair of high kicks that are partially blocked. Eblen looks for another takedown.

WHO WANTS IT MORE?! Eblen & Van Steenis refuse to get tired 💪#PFLCapeTown 🇿🇦 | TODAY | Grand Arena, GrandWest | Cape Town, South Africa | 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/hauQeUruKm

— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 19, 2025

Van Steenis has an arm around the neck. Van Steenis lands some right hands and a knee to the body. Eblen with a knee to the legs. Ref warns for a lack of activity. Van Steenis goes for a low kick but gets himself off balance. Eblen dives to him with a right hand. Van Steenis puts up his legs for a triangle, but Eblen gets around and nears back control again. Van Steenis gets his back to the mat and his guard up. Eblen trying to pressure. Van Steenis looks for a triangle but time runs out.

Round 4

Jab by Van Steenis. Low kicks from both men. Jabs from both men. Low kicks from both men. Right hand from Van Steenis. Left jab by Van Steenis. Eblen with a combination. Left hand by Eblen. Right hands from Eblen. A low kick from Van Steenis gets Eblen off balance briefly. Van Steenis misses a right hand. Eblen shoots in for the takedown again, pressing Van Steenis into the fence once more.

Van Steenis gets off the fence. The two with a strong exchange. Front kick to the body and jab to the face by Van Steenis. Strong combination by Van Steenis. Left hand by Eblen, pressing Van Steenis into the fence. Ref asks for more action. Van Steenis looked to squeeze his arm around the neck of Eblen, but Eblen got away before trying for another takedown attempt. Back in the center, the two’s pace has slowed significantly. A low kick from Van Steenis. Left hand by Van Steenis. A strong combination by Van Steenis. A high kick wobbles Eblen! Van Steenis rains down a flurry but the bell sounds!

WHAT A WAY TO END ROUND 4 😤 Costello Van Steenis refuses to give up!#PFLCapeTown 🇿🇦 | TODAY | Grand Arena, GrandWest | Cape Town, South Africa | 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/QHXLs8S9ZK

— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 19, 2025

Round 5

Right hands from both men. Front kick by Van Steenis. Round kick from Eblen is blocked. An exchange from both men, with Eblen backing up. Van Steenis goes in for a grab, and Eblen gets him down and gets right to the back. Eblen has a hook in; he may be going for an arm lock or twister of some kind. Eblen scrambles and gets to the back. Eblen pressures, trying to search for some choke. Eblen landing short strikes to the head of Van Steenis.

Van Steenis rolls and gets back to his feet. One-two by Eblen. Eblen presses Van Steenis into the fence once again. Elbows from Van Steenis. Ref warns the fighters to use the position. Ref gives another warning. Eblen tries for a double-leg lift, while Van Steenis tries to use the body lock. Eblen ends up taking Van Steenis back down to the mat. Eblen with short punches. Eblen looks for a choke, but Van Steenis rolls through and reverses the position. Van Steenis has hooks in. A couple of strikes by Van Steenis…WAIT, HE’S UNDER THE CHIN! EBLEN’S FADING! 10 SECONDS…HE’S OUT!!!

DOUBT. HIM. NOW.

COSTELLO VAN STEENIS REAR NAKED CHOKE WITH 10 SECONDS LEFT!!#AndNew PFL Middleweight World Champion!#PFLCapeTown 🇿🇦 | TODAY | Grand Arena, GrandWest | Cape Town, South Africa | 🇺🇸 LIVE NOW on ESPN+ pic.twitter.com/eAby40lnU6

— PFL (@PFLMMA) July 19, 2025

COSTELLO VAN STEENIS IS THE PFL MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD IN ONE OF THE GREATEST COMEBACKS YOU’LL EVER SEE!!!

OFFICIAL RESULT

Costello Van Steenis def. Johnny Eblen via fifth-round technical submission (rear-naked choke, 4:51)