PFL Announces Costello van Steenis vs. Johnny Eblen Rematch for July 18
The rivalry between middleweight champion and top contender is officially headed toward a second chapter.
PFL announced Wednesday that van Steenis will defend his middleweight world title against Eblen in a rematch on July 18 at the in . The bout headlines a card airing live on ESPN2, with prelims streaming on the ESPN app.
Their first encounter in July 2025 instantly became one of the most unforgettable title fights in recent MMA memory. Eblen appeared moments away from retaining his unbeaten record and securing the inaugural PFL middleweight championship after controlling much of the fight. Then, with seconds remaining in the fifth round, van Steenis shocked the MMA world by locking in a rear-naked choke and forcing the tap.
The stunning comeback handed Eblen the first loss of his professional career while elevating van Steenis from respected contender to world champion.
Now, nearly a year later, both men enter the rematch with something to prove.
“This is the fight that fans have been asking for since the moment Costello secured the rear-naked choke in the final seconds of their first world championship fight,” PFL CEO said in the promotion’s announcement. “There were a lot of opinions about how that fight ended, and both fighters have something to prove.”
Since capturing the belt, van Steenis has worked to silence claims that the finish was simply a last-second miracle. In his first title defense at PFL Madrid, the Dutch-Spanish standout delivered a dominant performance against , earning a third-round TKO and strengthening his argument as one of the best middleweights outside the UFC.
“I wanted this rematch with Eblen from the moment the first fight ended,” van Steenis said. “There’s still a lot being said about that first result, and I’m looking forward to proving, definitively, that I’m the better fighter on July 18.”
Eblen responded emphatically in his own return to the cage. The former champion rebounded with a first-round rear-naked choke victory over UFC veteran at PFL Pittsburgh, immediately reestablishing himself as the clear No. 1 contender at 185 pounds.
Following the win, Eblen made his intentions clear.
“I gotta get that belt back,” Eblen shouted after the fight. “Costello if you’re watching, I’m coming for you baby, revenge.”
The matchup now carries a deeper storyline than a standard title defense. For van Steenis, the rematch represents validation — a chance to prove his championship win was no fluke and that he truly surpassed one of the sport’s most dominant middleweights. For Eblen, it’s about redemption and reclaiming the belt he believes slipped away in a single costly moment.
On July 18, the PFL middleweight division finally gets its answer.
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