Preview: PFL Super Fights - Battle of the Giants ‘Brace for Impact’

Middleweights
Johnny Eblen (15-0) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-3)

Eblen has been so dominant as the Bellator middleweight champion that he’s rematching guys he’s already beaten soundly. Coming out of the historic University of Missouri wrestling program, the American Top Team standout has had a perfect MMA career since turning pro in 2017. That said, Eblen’s last two outings showed potential cracks in the armor. In his fight against Impa Kasanganay last February, Eblen was dropped in the second round and pushed to the limit. It would take a body lock in the fight's final minute for Eblen to secure the third round and the split decision win.

With Eblen starting to slow down, this could be the opportunity for England’s Edwards to claim the belt. Edwards took on Eblen in Sept. 2023 and did a solid job of staying on his feet early in the fight. The younger brother of former UFC welterweight king Leon Edwards, Fabian has the same slick, technical kickboxing style but needs to make some major adjustments this time around.

Edwards's technical approach is solid, but he’s guilty of being too relaxed and patient in the cage. He doesn’t push the pace, and he can be lethargic in his approach. This is the wrong way to fight Eblen, who will, without a doubt, make Edwards fight him at a frantic pace. Edwards cut and bloodied Eblen in the first with a short elbow, but that was the extent of his success. Edwards caught jabs and spent most of the fight defending takedowns, but he was largely ineffective inside his kickboxing range.

The landscape of the Bellator middleweight division has left fans with a title fight that nobody asked for. Edwards is a solid contender, but his style is tailored to Eblen. The champ will force Edwards to respect his grappling and will once again nullify his striking with constant shots and clinch work. Unless Edwards lands a solid shot that puts Eblen down, it’s hard to see this fight playing out much differently than the last time.

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Ngannou vs. Ferreira
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Eblen vs. Edwards
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The Prelims