Costello van Steenis Surprises and Conquers the PFL Championship
In a night full of emotions, Costello van Steenis won the PFL championship on Saturday, submitting former champion Johnny Eblen in the final seconds of their fight. The unexpected victory left everyone speechless. Van Steenis, with an impressive 17-3 record, took advantage of Eblen’s (16-1) fatigue in the fifth round, finishing the fight with a rear-naked choke with nine seconds remaining. Eblen, who won the Bellator MMA title in 2022 and moved it to the PFL in 2024, dominated much of the fight, but ran out of energy in the decisive moments. This result was a surprise, considering van Steenis’ grappling ability, with six submission victories. Eblen was considered one of the best fighters outside the UFC, and started as a 5-1 favorite.Dakota Ditcheva Dominates and Secures Her Future in the PFL
In the co-main event, Dakota Ditcheva continued her winning streak by defeating Sumiko Inaba by unanimous decision in three rounds. This was the first time Ditcheva (15-0) went to the decision since 2022, demonstrating Inaba’s resilience and Ditcheva’s effort. Following her victory, Ditcheva, the 2024 PFL champion at 125 pounds, announced the signing of a new multi-year contract with the promoter.“I just re-signed with PFL. We reached a great agreement. I look forward to the coming years,” Ditcheva stated.
Dakota Ditcheva
