PFL Retains Johnny Eblen and AJ McKee as Promotion Shifts Format
Former Bellator Champions Staying with PFL
Two former world champions have decided to continue their fight careers with the PFL.
Former PFL and Bellator Middleweight champion “Pressure” Johnny Eblen and former Bellator Featherweight champion “Mercenary” AJ McKee JR are both set to remain with the promotion as it transitions away from the season/tournament format and toward a more traditional matchmaking system.
Eblen (16-1) captured the Bellator Middleweight title from Gegard Mousasi and defended it twice. He made history by defeating Fabian Edwards via decision to become the inaugural PFL Middleweight champion. The ATT standout is expected to set his sights on regaining the belt he lost in July to Costello Van Steenis.
McKee (23-2) has won five of his last six fights, including two of three under the PFL banner. The “Mercenary” debuted in the promotion with an armbar submission of Clay Collard. His only setback in the recent stretch came by split decision against Paul Hughes. In his lone appearance of 2025, McKee earned a decision win over Akhmed Magomedov.
Rounding out the news, UFC veteran Montana De La Rosa has joined the PFL women’s flyweight division. De La Rosa went 6-5-1 over seven years in the UFC, collecting three submission victories along the way.
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