Van Steenis Stuns with Hail Mary Submission Over Eblen at PFL Africa – Rematch Inevitable but Timing Uncertain

The fight world is still buzzing after Costello van Steenis pulled off what might be the comeback of the year, snatching the PFL middleweight championship from Johnny Eblen with a last-minute submission at PFL Africa. I’ve been covering MMA for years, and moments like these remind me why this sport is unmatched for pure drama.

If you missed it (and seriously, find the highlight now), van Steenis was down on the scorecards heading into the championship rounds when he caught Eblen in a triangle choke that forced the tap with just seconds remaining. Classic “it’s not over till it’s over” MMA magic.

The Miracle in Africa: How van Steenis Shocked the MMA World

Let’s break down what actually happened in this fight. For nearly 25 minutes, Johnny Eblen was doing Johnny Eblen things – controlling the action, landing the cleaner strikes, and seemingly cruising toward adding PFL gold to his impressive resume.

Van Steenis, bloodied and appearing exhausted, needed something spectacular. And boy did he deliver.

“I knew I was down on the scorecards,” van Steenis told me in the post-fight press conference. “My corner was clear that I needed a finish. In those moments, you either find something special within yourself or you don’t. Tonight, I found it.”

That “something special” was a perfectly executed triangle choke that caught Eblen in a rare moment of defensive vulnerability. When the tap came, the arena erupted.

Rematch Inevitable, But Timeline Remains Unclear

Both fighters and PFL executives have confirmed a rematch is in the cards, but the when and where remains up in the air.

“Of course we’ll fight again,” van Steenis said. “Johnny is an incredible champion and competitor. That’s not even a question of if, just when.”

Eblen, showing the class of a true champion despite the devastating loss, acknowledged the same, though his team has hinted they may want a tune-up fight first rather than jumping straight back into a title bout.

“If I hadn’t made that one mistake in the final minute, we’d be having a completely different conversation right now,” Eblen stated. “I dominated that fight for 24 minutes. But that’s MMA – one mistake and it’s over.”

What If Eblen Had Survived?

The elephant in the room is what would have happened if Eblen had survived those final seconds. The scorecards I saw at press row had Eblen up comfortably, likely heading to a unanimous decision victory.

According to sources close to Eblen’s camp, this “what if” scenario is precisely why they might push for a different path back to the title rather than an immediate rematch.

“Johnny knows he was winning that fight handily,” said one teammate who requested anonymity. “Sometimes mentally, it’s better to get a win under your belt before jumping back into a championship fight, especially after a loss that came so late when victory seemed certain.”

Unofficial press row scorecard before the submission

PFL’s Plans for the Middleweight Division

PFL CEO Peter Murray has made it clear that van Steenis vs. Eblen II is a marquee fight they want to build toward, but the promotion also has broader plans for its middleweight division expansion.

“We’ve signed several high-profile middleweights recently,” Murray explained. “While the rematch is definitely happening, we want to build the division properly. That might mean both guys facing different opponents first.”

This approach makes sense from a business perspective. Why rush to book a rematch when you can potentially create two separate storylines and build even more interest for an eventual second clash?

Fan Reaction: Social Media Explodes

The MMA community has been on fire since the upset. I’ve never seen my Twitter timeline move so fast after a finish. The dramatic nature of the comeback has fans divided on what should happen next.

Some typical reactions:

• “Eblen was ROBBED! He dominated for 24 minutes and lost on a fluke submission!”
• “Van Steenis showed why you never quit in this sport. True heart of a champion!”
• “Immediate rematch is the only option. How can you not run this back?”

What’s Next for Both Fighters?

While waiting for official announcements, both fighters will be healing up. Van Steenis suffered a nasty cut above his eye that will need time to heal, while Eblen appeared physically fine but will likely take some time to process the mental aspects of such a dramatic loss.

If I were a betting man (and sometimes I am), I’d guess we’ll see both fighters back in action by late summer, but potentially against different opponents. The rematch would then likely headline a major PFL card near the end of the year.

One thing’s for certain – when these two do meet again, the stakes and the interest will be even higher.

Want to Join the Conversation?

Who do you think wins the rematch? Should it happen immediately or should both fighters take different bouts first? Let me know in the comments below or hit me up on Twitter!

Until next time, this is your favorite MMA journalist reminding you that in this sport, it’s never over until it’s over.

Source: PFL Africa Championship post-fight press conference