Johnny Eblen’s long-standing winning run was finally put to a stop in the most dramatic of fashions tonight.
The Bellator middleweight champion had never tasted defeat in his professional career heading into tonight’s PFL Champions Series headliner in South Africa. And he was a massive favorite to continue his unbeaten run against Costello Van Steenis, whose CV made him an unlikely challenger.
However, ‘the Spaniard’ showed why you have to be awake for all 25 minutes. With just seconds on the clock in a fight where he was unassailably behind, he managed to gain top position and land a stunning rear naked choke.
Johnny Eblen choked out by Costello Van Steenis in PFL title showdown
Johnny Eblen has long been touted as one of the best middleweights in the world, and he appeared to be showing just why in the early stages of his fight with Costello Van Steenis. He dominated the first two rounds, before the fight began to turn in the third.
Van Steenis was beginning to get back into the bout, but was behind by two rounds on two of three scorecards heading into the fifth. And for four-and-a-half minutes, it seemed Eblen was going to overcome a bad cut and keep his record with a split decision.
However, the challenger managed to gain top control and lock in a rear naked choke with about 30 seconds to go. Eblen fought the hands for as long as he could, but when the referee stepped in to check if he was still in the fight his hand flopped and the bout was stopped with nine seconds to go.
Costello Van Steenis emotionally reacts to title win
The newly-crowned champion was keen to pay tribute to the Cape Town crowd following his victory, as well as noting just how tough Eblen was to break down.
“Put me in with the sharks, put me in with the killer whales,” Van Steenis told Jimmy Smith during his post-fight interview in Cape Town. “F—ing put me in the Apex with Johnny Eblen I’ll win too. But it’s from a limited edition side.
“Nobody is as strong as Johnny in the first or second round, strongest guy I’ve ever trained or fought with. But everybody’s got a gas tank and so do I. I gave my life for this s—, 12 years in the professional business, started really young, made some mistakes.
“I’m 16-3 but if you see those three losses it was just too early for me and I was fighting legends. I guess I’m a f—ing legend now, am I? I’m the son of my dad and my dad is a f—ing warrior. Warriors create other warriors, and I guess we’re a family of warriors, man. My dad, my brother and me.
“I’m the king of Cape Town, you guys are right next to me. We are all the same, we are all kings of this division and of this city! I f—ing love this place, I’m coming back for a holiday in December.”