Costello van Steenis stopped Fabian Edwards in the third round in Madrid to retain his PFL middleweight title, extending his head-to-head edge over the Briton. The victory, a stoppage delivered while defending a takedown against the cage, marked Van Steenis’ first title defence and his second career win over Edwards. Edwards, 32, had arrived after winning the PFL 2025 middleweight tournament and following two earlier world-title defeats, but tactical choices led to a third-round finish. The event was staged in front of a large Spanish crowd and drew notable sports figures to cageside.
Key takeaways
- Costello van Steenis retained the PFL middleweight belt by stopping Fabian Edwards in round three with elbow strikes while defending a takedown.
- The result was Van Steenis’ second victory over Edwards, the first having come in 2020, and it was his first defence of the PFL title.
- Fabian Edwards, 32, earned the title shot by winning the PFL’s 2025 middleweight tournament but has now lost three championship fights.
- The loss compounds a difficult spell for the Edwards family: Leon Edwards suffered a knockout loss to Carlos Prates in November, his third straight defeat.
- The Madrid card was the largest MMA event hosted in Spain, and drew high-profile attendees including Jude Bellingham, Thibaut Courtois and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
- Van Steenis, 33, fought in front of a largely supportive home crowd; his undercard saw younger brother Gino win by knockout.
Background
The matchup carried a narrative of redemption and rivalry. Fabian Edwards had pursued a world title across multiple promotions, including two losses in 2023 and 2024 in championship fights, and qualified for this opportunity by winning PFL’s 2025 middleweight tournament. Costello van Steenis captured the PFL middleweight crown earlier and returned to Spain to defend in front of a home audience, a rare major MMA card for the country.
Both fighters brought contrasting styles and histories into the cage. Edwards is known for striking but has intermittently employed wrestling; Van Steenis blended striking and cage-tested defence, and has a prior victory over Edwards from 2020. The event was positioned by PFL around Van Steenis’ marketability in Spain, where the promotion has aimed to expand MMA’s footprint amid the UFC’s absence from the country.
Main event
The fight opened with both men exchanging leg kicks and probing range, with Spanish fans vocally backing Van Steenis and some jeering Edwards during his walkout. An early swing came when Van Steenis reversed position on the ground late in the first round, ending the stanza in top position despite a cut near his left eye.
Edwards repeatedly chose to wrestle during the contest, a departure from moments when he appears more dangerous standing. When he did strike he looked quicker at times, but those moments were intermittent and the decision to pursue takedowns dictated the fight’s flow.
In the third round, Edwards again attempted to secure a takedown against the cage. Van Steenis defended and, while pinned in a scramble, unleashed a flurry of elbows that forced Edwards to collapse to his knees. The referee stopped the contest as Edwards was clearly hurt, giving Van Steenis the stoppage victory.
Van Steenis celebrated emphatically, raising both arms and soaking in applause from the home crowd. It was a high point for the Dutch-Spanish champion and a difficult night for Edwards, who must now reassess after a high-profile defeat.
Analysis & implications
The outcome underscores how tactical choices can decide elite MMA bouts: Edwards’ repeated wrestling attempts blunted his natural striking advantages and allowed Van Steenis to control moments where elbows and ground-and-pound became decisive. At elite levels, small strategy deviations can translate directly into fight-ending sequences.
For Van Steenis, the win consolidates his status in the PFL middleweight division and raises his profile in Spain and the wider European market. A successful first defence typically increases a champion’s negotiating leverage and promotional value, and the Madrid card showcased PFL’s ability to stage large-scale events outside traditional markets.
Edwards faces a classic crossroads for a 32-year-old contender: rebuild through a few wins and tactical adjustments or retool his approach against wrestlers who can neutralise his striking. The PFL middleweight roster is not deep at the elite end, so a short winning streak could return him to contention, but he will need clearer game-planning and defence against cage-based scrambles.
Comparison & data
| Meeting | Result |
|---|---|
| 2020 | Van Steenis def. Edwards (previous victory) |
| Madrid (this event) | Van Steenis stopped Edwards — Round 3 (elbows) |
The two meetings illustrate a pattern in which Van Steenis has successfully countered Edwards’ approaches. The Madrid stoppage was decisive and resulted from a defensive scramble that turned into an offensive sequence for the champion.
Reactions & quotes
Van Steenis reflected on the win and the crowd as he emerged from the cage; his remarks highlighted respect for Edwards and satisfaction at performing at home.
“He could be a champion in the future, but not by fighting me,”
Costello van Steenis
An analyst at ringside noted that tactical discipline decided the contest, emphasizing how defending takedowns while remaining active can shift momentum in a title fight.
“Tonight was a reminder that choosing when to wrestle or strike defines elite-level outcomes,”
MMA analyst (post-fight commentary)
Fans and peers reacted on social channels and at ringside; the presence of football stars underlined the event’s crossover appeal and the growing mainstream attention for big PFL cards in Europe.
Unconfirmed
- It is not confirmed whether Edwards’ repeated wrestling was a pre-fight game plan or an in-fight adjustment to Van Steenis’ movement.
- The long-term medical status of Edwards following the stoppage (beyond the immediate post-fight care) has not been publicly disclosed.
Bottom line
Costello van Steenis’ third-round stoppage in Madrid reinforced his standing as PFL middleweight champion and highlighted the tactical margins that separate elite fighters. The win — his first title defence and second career win over Fabian Edwards — boosts Van Steenis’ momentum and the PFL’s visibility in Spain.
Fabian Edwards must now rebuild: he remains a top-level athlete who earned this title shot via the 2025 PFL tournament, but the loss exposes strategic vulnerabilities opponents will seek to exploit. A targeted run of wins and clearer fight plans will be needed for him to return to championship contention.