Dalton Rosta GOES OFF on Fabian Edwards: ‘I’m going to take his heart’
Dalton Rosta speaks to MMA Junkie’s Danny Segura ahead of his 2025 PFL World Tournament Final against Fabian Edwards on Aug. 2 in Hollywood, Fla.
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – Dalton Rosta is confident he will win the PFL middleweight tournament and then take the division’s title from Costello Van Steenis.
Rosta (11-1) has been on a roll in the new-look PFL tournament by submitting former champion Sadibou Sy and avenging the only loss of his career by winning a split decision over Aaron Jeffery. Those two victories have led him to the final, where he will meet former Bellator title challenger Fabian Edwards.
“I’m gonna go in here and smash this dude,” Rosta told MMA Junkie at American Top Team. “It’s not even gonna be close.”
Although he can’t pinpoint a reason why, Rosta says he just doesn’t like Edwards (15-4). He aims to bring that energy into the cage with him when they battle at 2025 PFL World Tournament 10: Finals on Aug. 21 at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.
“At the end of the day, I hope this fight goes five rounds because he’s talking a lot of sh*t about his cardio and he’s gonna push me,” Rosta said. “I can’t wait to go out there, and after Round 3, if it makes it that far, he’s gasping for air, he’s looking for a way out, and I’m gonna take his heart from him.
“… He’s smug. At the end of the day, it ain’t personal. I don’t like the dude, but I’m going in there to take his head off because that’s what I’m here to do. I’m the best in the world, and I’m gonna prove it on Aug. 21.”
Edwards reached the finals by stopping 2023 PFL light heavyweight season winner Impa Kasanganay and winning a unanimous decision over Josh Silveira. Rosta plans to halt Edwards’ momentum and then take aim at Costello Van Steenis, who recently defeated Johny Eblen to win the PFL middleweight title.
“This round, I get a super confident – I don’t know why – but a super confident Fabian Edwards, and I’m going to put his lights out,” Rosta said. “Then, everybody’s gonna believe me (that I’m the best in the world). If they don’t believe me then, at the end of the year, whenever I fight Costello Van Steenis, and then I beat him, they will.”
Despite Rosta and Eblen being teammates, the Pennsylvania native says it’s not about getting one back for the team, but rather furthering his own career and proving himself as an elite fighter at middleweight.
“(Winning the title) interests me for my own endeavors,” Rosta said. “At the end of the day, I’m not here to avenge anybody’s loss. He’s his own man. He’s my teammate, I support him. But, at the end of the day, we’re in the same weight class. We’re chasing the same belt, and that belt’s mine.”
