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Johnny Eblen successfully defended his Bellator middleweight title at PFL: Battle of the Giants in Saudi Arabia, securing a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over Fabian Edwards. Despite a dominant start, Eblen had to fend off a determined late comeback from Edwards, ultimately winning on all three scorecards, 48-47, and extending his undefeated record to 16-0.
Eblen's wrestling prowess was on full display early, as he consistently overpowered Edwards with takedowns and superior grappling. From the opening bell, Eblen set the pace, landing his right hand at will and forcing Edwards to defend against a relentless barrage of pressure and takedowns. Edwards tried to counter with an uppercut, but Eblen expertly avoided it and continued to ragdoll the British middleweight across the cage.
Eblen’s control on the ground kept Edwards on the defensive for the majority of the fight. While he couldn't generate much offense from the top position, Eblen’s constant pressure and ability to bring Edwards to the canvas ensured he stayed ahead on the scorecards.
“I kind of faded a little bit,” Eblen admitted after the fight. “I’m pretty satisfied. I wish I could have ended it again. Fabian’s a top-level guy. He’s one of the best in the world.”
Edwards started to rally in the final round, knowing a knockout was his only hope of victory. He landed several crisp jabs and dug into Eblen’s body with powerful knees, even throwing some sharp inside elbows. Unfortunately for Edwards, his late surge came too late, as Eblen managed to survive the onslaught and hold on for the win.
With this fourth title defense under his belt, Eblen now faces the challenge of finding worthy opponents, having already defeated Edwards twice. His dominance in the middleweight division raises questions about who can truly test him next.
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