Preview: 2025 PFL Africa 1

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The Professional Fighters League will usher in a new era on Saturday with the launch of its third international league: PFL Africa. Originating from GrandWest Arena in Cape Town, South Africa, the 14-fight 2025 PFL Africa 1 card features heavyweight and bantamweight quarterfinals.

Following the success of PFL Europe and PFL MENA, PFL Africa has assembled a field filled with unbeaten prospects and battle-tested veterans. Eight-man tournaments are set to determine the inaugural champions and could serve as the launching point for new stars to emerge. A PFL Champions Series middleweight title bout between Johnny Eblen and dangerous finisher Costello van Steenis headlines the main card. In the co-headliner, 2024 PFL women’s flyweight champion Dakota Ditcheva makes her highly anticipated return against Sumiko Inaba. Bellator standouts A.J. McKee and Corey Anderson round out the card, showing that the PFL does not plan to pull punches with its latest project.

Now to the 2025 PFL Africa 1 preview:

PFL Champions Series Middleweight Championship

Johnny Eblen (16-0, 2-0 PFL) vs. Costello van Steenis (16-3, 10 PFL)

Eblen became the face of the Bellator middleweight division when he defeated Gegard Mousasi for the title in 2022, but his popularity has failed to reach its potential. He’s a great fighter and could arguably be the best middleweight in the world, but he lacks a defining performance or dance partner to take his star power to the next level. He proved himself to be a worthy champion who could control an experienced opponent, as evidenced by his outwrestling Anatoly Tokov in his first title defense. His best performance came by way of a third-round knockout of Fabian Edwards. After establishing an early lead, Eblen was cut by an elbow in the second round but didn’t lose his nerve. He lived up to his moniker and kept the pressure on the Englishmen before dropping him with a right hand and finishing him with a flurry of blows. Eblen demonstrated his survival abilities again when Impa Kasanganay dropped him in the second round of their cross-promotional clash. Eblen would rely on his extensive wrestling background to sneak out a split decision. Despite having the belt for less than two years, Eblen has run low on enticing challengers and would opt to fight Edwards again, dominating him early but nearly letting the belt slip through his fingers with a lackluster finish. Eblen hasn’t fought since October 2024, and at 33, there isn’t a clear timeline for how long his prime will last. Eblen is clearly one of Bellator’s top fighters, but he has moments where he’s hittable and lethargic. He doesn’t gun for finishes anymore, but he’s mastered the art of controlling rounds and breaking his opponents' will with smart pressure. The longer the fight goes on, the harder it is to deny him, but he’ll be matched up with a fighter who’ll be looking to put him away early.

Van Steenis could be the fighter that halts the Eblen hype train. The Dutch contender is an athletic, well-rounded and resilient threat that has never been finished. He’s known for his fast starts and diverse offense. Van Steenis technique is flawed and a bit sloppy, but his volume and willingness to mix up elbows, knees, spinning backfists, and whatever pops into his head make him dangerous in the opening rounds, where Eblen will be hoping to feel him out. Van Steenis only needed 48 seconds to knock out Joao Dantas in his last fight, but he’s also capable of finishing opponents on the ground. Just ask Gregory Babene. In Van Steenis’ last loss to Douglas Lima, “The Spaniard” opened the fight with kicks to the calf and the inside of the leg. He does this to set up his head kicks upstairs. But Lima played a better version of the same game and brutalized the legs as well. Van Steenis doesn’t have impressive flexibility, so he has to feint and set up his attack from the bottom on up. Eblen works in reverse. Eblen isn’t a world-class striker, but he’s comfortable working behind his jab and overhand right. He’s a heavy puncher who comes forward and uses his punches to create openings for his grappling. As an elite wrestler, Eblen is a master at shooting off leg kicks and won’t allow Van Steenis to attack the lead leg without paying a price. Van Steenis is a sneaky counterpuncher who is willing to open up to land something big. Eblen has been caught, cut, and hurt by awkward shots in the past, and that’s Van Steenis’ specialty.

Don’t be surprised if Eblen cautiously gives away the first round so he can press inside safely. Van Steenis has never gone five rounds before, and it would be wise of Eblen to take him into the deep waters. I think Van Steenis will have success in spurts and keep Eblen at bay with his volume early, but as the rounds go on, Eblen will walk him down and press him against the cage. If Van Steenis tires from the pressure, he’ll look to submit Eblen off his back, but giving up superior position to the champ is never wise. Eblen dominates fights on the ground due to his control and ground and pound. While Van Steenis can pose some problems to Eblen early, the champ has been tested enough to weather the early storm and impose his will on the weaker grappler. As the fight heads into the later rounds, Eblen will push for a finish but stay careful of any desperate submission attempts Van Steenis throws up and coast to a clear decision win.



Jump To »
Eblen vs. Van Steenis
Ditcheva vs. Inaba
McKee vs. Magomedov
Zaynukov vs. Izumi
Anderson vs. Goltsov
The Prelims