PFL Austin Main Event Shifts After Champion Suffers Injury

The Professional Fighters League has been forced to make a significant change to its July 18 event in Austin, Texas, after middleweight champion Costello van Steenis withdrew from his scheduled title defense due to injury.

Van Steenis had been set to defend his belt in a highly anticipated rematch against former Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen at the Moody Center. The matchup was one of the promotion’s most compelling title fights, as Eblen was seeking revenge for the only loss of his professional career.

With the champion sidelined, PFL officials have elected to keep Eblen in the main event and create an interim middleweight championship bout. Eblen will now face former PFL tournament winner Impa Kasanganay in a rematch with championship implications.

The new main event adds another layer of intrigue to the division. Eblen enters the contest looking to work his way back to undisputed title contention after rebounding from his loss to van Steenis with a dominant submission victory over Bryan Battle earlier this year. The setback against van Steenis came in dramatic fashion, as Eblen appeared headed toward victory before being caught in a late submission that ended his unbeaten run.

Kasanganay has rebuilt momentum since returning to the middleweight division. The former 2023 PFL light heavyweight tournament champion has recorded notable victories over Andrew Sanchez and Dalton Rosta and now receives an opportunity to capture interim gold.

The matchup also serves as a rematch of their previous meeting at the PFL Champions vs. Bellator event, where Eblen earned a closely contested split-decision victory. Many observers considered that fight highly competitive, making the second encounter one of the most intriguing rematches available in the division.

The interim title fight marks a historic moment for the promotion, as it will be the first interim championship bout in PFL history. The winner is expected to move on to face van Steenis once the reigning champion is medically cleared to compete.

PFL Austin remains scheduled for July 18 at the Moody Center and will also feature a bantamweight co-main event between Sergio Pettis and Lewis McGrillen-Evans, along with several additional bouts across multiple weight classes.

While fans will have to wait longer to see the highly anticipated Eblen-van Steenis rematch, the revised main event ensures that championship stakes remain attached to one of the promotion’s biggest summer events. Cris Cyborg is expected to make her PFL MMA return later this summer with a blockbuster fight which could end up being the retirement fight of her career.  A Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt, WIBA Boxing World Champion and the sport of MMA’s only 5 promotional champion, who would you like to see Cris Cyborg fight next?