PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants: Johnny Eblen vs. Fabian Edwards: Full video highlightsÂ
Johnny Eblen successfully defended his middleweight title against Fabian Edwards, earning a unanimous decision victory in their highly anticipated rematch at PFL Super Fights: Battle of the Giants on Oct 19. The win marked Eblen's third successful defense, keeping his undefeated record intact at 16-0. Edwards, seeking to avenge his prior knockout loss to Eblen, put up a valiant effort but fell short despite rallying in the later rounds.
The fight began with both fighters cautiously feeling each other out. Eblen, known for his wrestling prowess, took control early with multiple takedowns, keeping Edwards on the defensive. Although Edwards consistently fought his way back to his feet, Eblen's relentless pressure and grappling dictated the pace of the first two rounds.
In the third round, Edwards started to find his rhythm, landing solid strikes, including effective low kicks and a big left hand that momentarily rocked Eblen. Despite this, Eblen's wrestling prevailed as he continued to secure takedowns and control Edwards on the canvas.
By the fourth round, Eblen's dominance in the wrestling exchanges became evident as he continued to take Edwards down with ease. However, Edwards showcased his resilience, constantly getting back to his feet, despite Eblen's efforts to keep him grounded.
The final round saw Edwards mounting a significant comeback. He defended Eblen's takedown attempts and landed sharp strikes, including stinging front kicks and a solid one-two combination. Edwards clearly had his best round, but it was not enough to sway the judges after Eblen's early success.
In the end, all three judges scored the fight 48-47 in favor of Johnny Eblen. With this victory, Eblen retained his middleweight title, while Edwards will have to regroup after a strong yet unsuccessful challenge.
Check out some of the fight highlights below:
The champion Johnny Eblen made his way to the cage with the evergreen 'Take Me Home, Country Roads' by John Denver playing in the background:
The first round saw the champion in full control of his opponent, as he attempted takedowns:
Check out the final round of the fight below:
Eblen picked up pace in the final round to make up for the previous rounds: