Costello van Steenis: Rosta, Edwards fought for ‘the B belt’
Costello van Steenis speaks to MMA Junkie and other media at Thursday’s 2025 PFL World Tournament 10.
HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Costello van Steenis doesn’t think all PFL titles are equal.
Van Steenis, who holds the PFL’s Championship Series middleweight belt, believes his title is a tier above former rival Fabian Edwards’ – who won the 2025 PFL middleweight tournament this past Thursday in the main event of 2025 PFL World Tournament 10 in Hollywood, Fla.
Van Steenis submitted Johnny Eblen, then PFL champion and last Bellator middleweight champion, in a big upset win last month to crown himself PFL middleweight champion, while Edwards knocked out Dalton Rosta last Thursday to get his tournament belt.
“They’re fighting for the ‘B’ belt and I’ve got the ‘A’ belt,” van Steenis told MMA Junkie and other media backstage at 2025 PFL World Tournament 10 hours before Edwards’ win. “The trash talk has been on point the whole week, I hope the fight will be sharp as well. I hope we can enjoy our popcorn for this fight and by the end of the year, I’ll fight Fabian or Rosta.”
Many expected van Steenis to rematch Eblen, given Eblen’s long tenure as champion and desire to run it back immediately with him. However, it looks like that won’t be the case. Nothing has been booked, but van Steenis was brought in the cage and faced off with Edwards following his KO win. PFL commentator Dan Hardy said to expect that fight in the future.
Van Steenis thinks the Eblen rematch will come eventually, but his focus is on Edwards.
“I 100 percent believe Johnny Eblen and I will have a rematch sooner or later, but the next fight is (Fabian Edwards),” van Steenis said. “Hopefully I can get my hands on them by the end of this year.”
Van Steenis is ready to fight once again this 2025. His fight against Eblen was his first and only bout this year, and would like to get a second one in – ideally in Spain.
“I’m ready to go next move if I have to. I already told Mike Kogan and the PFL team,” van Steenis said. “Just give me a few weeks – I’ll get the weight down, and I’m ready to go.”
