Costello van Steenis and Johnny Eblen are running it back with PFL gold on the line.
Promotional officials announced on Wednesday that the rematch is set with van Steenis’ middleweight title on the line in the main event of PFL Austin. The event takes place July 18 at the Moody Center with the main card airing on ESPN2.
Van Steenis captured the title with a comeback submission win over Eblen in the main event of PFL Africa this past July, and the champ wants to make sure that lightning strikes twice,
while Eblen wants to right the wrong.
“I wanted this rematch with Eblen from the moment the first fight ended,” van Steenis said in a release. “There’s still a lot being said about that first result, and I’m looking forward to proving, definitively, that I’m the better fighter on July 18.”
Van Steenis stopped Fabian Edwards in his first title defense at PFL Madrid in March — his second win over Edwards — to improve his win streak to four fights.
Eblen bounced back with a statement-making finish of Bryan Battle in the main event of PFL Pittsburgh in March — his 17th win in 18 pro fights. Ahead of the matchup, Eblen has been a main training partner for Sean Strickland ahead of his UFC 328 title fight with Khamzat Chimaev.
