Johnny Eblen is a champion again, and man, what a way to do it. He didn’t just win the PFL interim middleweight title Saturday night at PFL Austin. He finished Impa Kasanganay in the third round, making a huge statement, but it’s what happened *after* the fight that has everyone talking.
The Rematch Was Different This Time
You remember their last fight, right? Eblen barely got out of there with a win. But this time? Nah, this was a whole different beast. Eblen came out guns blazing, putting serious pressure on Kasanganay from the jump. Kasanganay tried to fight back in the second, landing some clean overhand rights, but Eblen just kept marching forward. By the end of that second round, Kasanganay was bleeding pretty bad from a cut on his face, and Eblen was just covered in his blood. It was gnarly. The third round was more of the same, Eblen pushing the pace, even with Kasanganay still landing shots. Kasanganay hung tough, no doubt, but Eblen eventually found an elbow that hurt him bad, leading to a nasty finish. Absolute domination this time around.
The Uncensored Truth of the Callout
But here’s the kicker, the part that’s got everyone buzzing. After the fight, Eblen went straight for undisputed champion Costello van Steenis. This isn’t just some random beef. Van Steenis was supposed to fight Eblen at PFL Austin, but he pulled out. And let’s not forget, van Steenis gave Eblen his first career loss. Eblen was FUMING. “Look at him! He’s standing! He’s here! Why aren’t we fighting?!” he roared in his post-fight speech. Then, van Steenis actually walked into the cage. You know it got heated. The two went at it, exchanging words so spicy the broadcast had to censor most of it. Can you even imagine what they were saying?
So Eblen’s got the interim belt, but it’s clear his eyes are on the undisputed title and getting that rematch with van Steenis. This rivalry is just getting started, and after that wild scene, you gotta wonder how soon we’re gonna see these two face off again. It’s gonna be epic.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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