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By James Brizuela
Contributing Writer
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The PFL landscape is set to change on March 20, as middleweight tournament champion Fabian Edwards will face off against Costello Van Steenis for the unified middleweight title.
More MMA: Exclusive: PFL Middleweight Champion Costello Van Steenis Vows to Finish Fabian Edwards
Edwards has built a huge career for himself, dating back to the Bellator days, and into becoming the tournament champion for the PFL in August 2025. With a similar 16-3 record, the British champion believes that his better opposition in recent years is the deciding factor that will lead to his hand getting raised in Madrid, Spain.
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Edwards sat down with Newsweek Sports to discuss his fight with Van Steenis, giving flowers to his older brother Leon, and more.
How are you feeling about the upcoming fight with Van Steenis?
"I'm excited. You know, honestly, I'm excited, and that's it, you know. You know, when you're excited for something, you're thinking, I can't wait for it to happen. That's the stage where I'm at now. So, yeah, absolutely."
Do you feel there is any pressure, considering you are fighting in Van Steenis' home country of Spain?
"Nah. No pressure for me. No pressure for me. I think he's going to be more so on him, you know. And that's it. Each fight brings its own pressure. But I think about the booze or anything, because, like I've said before, once I go out there and I take it, and I take his head off his shoulder. I know the fact, I know the Spanish crowd gonna be on my side anyway, so I just can't wait."
I spoke to Costello, and he claimed that you have the "B belt" and that he's actually the unified champion. What's your response to that?
"Like I've said before, before PFL bought Bellator and brought in a champion. To be the champion in PFL, you had to go out there and win the World Tournament, you know. I mean, to be the world champion, you know, I mean, so I went out there, and I've done exactly that. So, like I said, I've got a world title. You've got a world title. There can't be two world champions, you know. So someone's gotta go and gonna be me, you know, I can't wait. Absolutely."
During the PFL world tournaments, Edwards took on Impa Kasanganay, winning by KO/TKO in the second round. He also defeated Josh Silveira by unanimous decision, and knocked out Dalton Rosta with a headkick KO in the third round. These fights lead him to believe that he is more than prepared to take down Van Steenis.
You faced a "who's who" of competition to win the tournament belt. How does that competition stack against Costello?
"It good, you know, like those three fights I've had those experiences like, Josh was a finalist, I think, like once or twice, Impa, was a winner and a finalist. And then Dalton, coming from that gym, being some good guys as well. Those three opponents are prepped me well for this."
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You and Costello fought one another back in 2020, you know, leading to that split decision win for him. How has your game elevated since then?
"I just feel like I'm just more mature, you know? I mean, like I've matured way more, whereas we're fighting, you walk in the gym after a year, you know how to throw the jab across the kicks, the knees, all of these stuff. But it's about being able to put it all together, you know. And I feel like over these last couple of years, a couple of years, I've I've learned to just become a master on my craft. And like I said, March 20th, that's what people are going to see. I can't wait for that. Absolutely."
Youboth took on Johnny Eblen. Costello just took him on five rounds when he went the distance with him. Is that something that you're worried about going the distance? Or are you planning on basically just finishing him early on?
"I think I'll finish him anyways, you know. But like, naturally, you have to always prep for, if you don't, you know if he's tougher than what we think is, but all that distance on five-round stuff, I've done the five-rounders, you know? So I know I can do that. I know my camp has prepped me well for that five round about at the same time, it only takes one split second, and his lights are out, you know. And I know I got that in my pocket to be able to deliver that. So I can't wait. Definitely."
Is there any kind of similarities to his game that you can see from 2020 when you guys first fought until now?
"100% 100% like, I feel like, overall, I've improved the most, you know I mean, and I feel like I've fought, I've definitely fought the tougher competition, the tougher competition over these last five, six years, you know. And I really do believe I can show."
Edwards has carved out a name for himself in Bellator and PFL, but he also has his older brother Leon, who is the former middleweight champion in the UFC. Despite being a current champion and having a fantastic record, Fabian gave his flower to his brother and "gym leader."
Going back to the roster head kick, you know it was insanely weird that it was three years to the date that Leon did the same thing, right? You guys are both champions, right? Right now, do you feel like you've kind of surpassed Leon a little bit?
"I've seen people say that, 'Oh, I reckon he's...' I'm saying nah, because at the end of the day, he's levels, man, you know? And like, he's a team leader, and the head and the head guy in the gym and a lot of the stuff that we're learning, and these little tricks against the cage is coming from him, you know. I mean, so that'll never be the case. It's, it doesn't matter what I achieve, and I go and win this, win more, whatever, you'll always just, you know, in our eyes, he'll always be that guy."
Edwards and Van Steenis will face off against one another on March 20 in Madrid, Spain, with the winner be crowned the undisputed PFL middleweight champion. The full card will stream on ESPN+ at 4:00 PM EST.
To see the full interview, watch the video above. For more MMA news, head to Newsweek Sports.
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