{"id":25025,"date":"2026-03-21T06:07:13","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T06:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/pfl-madrid-van-steenis-edwards\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T06:07:13","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T06:07:13","slug":"pfl-madrid-van-steenis-edwards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/pfl-madrid-van-steenis-edwards\/","title":{"rendered":"PFL Madrid: Van Steenis vs. Edwards 2 \u2014 Play-by-play, Results &#038; Round Scoring"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<p><strong>Lead:<\/strong> On Friday, March 20 in Madrid, PFL staged its first major card in Spain, headlined by a rematch for the middleweight title between Costello van Steenis and Fabian Edwards. Van Steenis retained the belt with a third-round stoppage by elbows at 1:48, while the card produced multiple decisive finishes and several unanimous decisions across early prelims and the main card. Local fighters featured prominently, and the event served as both a showcase for European talent and a stepping stone toward PFL\u2019s upcoming Pittsburgh show. Judges&#8217; round scoring, methods of victory and two weight misses shaped the evening\u2019s narratives.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Costello van Steenis retained the PFL Middleweight Title, defeating Fabian Edwards via KO (elbows) at 3R 1:48.<\/li>\n<li>A.J. McKee beat Adam Borics by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28) in the co-main; McKee controlled pace with leg kicks and wrestling.<\/li>\n<li>Linton Vassell (age 42) finished Jose Augusto by TKO (punches and elbows) in R2 at 2:48, earning a clear stoppage win.<\/li>\n<li>Jacinta Austin registered the card\u2019s most emphatic finish, stopping Benita van Rooij by TKO (punches) in R1 at 2:40\u2014the first KO of her career.<\/li>\n<li>Several unanimous decisions filled the undercard: Claudio Pacella over David Mora (30-27s), Mattia Giordano over Ernesto Schisano (29-28s), Borja Garcia Heres over Rafael Calderon (29-28s), and Nacho Campos over Mathys Duragrin (29-28s).<\/li>\n<li>Two fighters missed weight: Mathys Duragrin came in at 146.5 for a featherweight bout and David Mora\u2019s opponent measurements were on contract; Kevin Cordero missed bantamweight at 136.6 and the contest proceeded at catchweight.<\/li>\n<li>Notable finishes included Luciano Pereira KO of Kevin Cordero at 2:10 R1 and Gino van Steenis\u2019s 2:43 R1 KO of Mark Ewen.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>PFL\u2019s Madrid card marked the promotion\u2019s first large-scale event on Spanish soil, an expansion milestone occurring March 20 as the organization continues to broaden its international reach. The show was built around a high-stakes middleweight title fight: van Steenis, who captured PFL gold last July by submitting Johnny Eblen, returned to defend against Fabian Edwards in a rematch of a meeting from their Bellator days more than five years ago. The rematch carried narrative weight\u2014van Steenis had taken the earlier bout by split decision\u2014and both men arrived with recent winning runs in the PFL.<\/p>\n<p>The card leaned into regional interest by stacking Spanish and Europe-based fighters throughout the undercard and prelims, giving local fans multiple athletes to support. That structure produced tense domestic matchups and highlighted the depth of European MMA, while several international names\u2014A.J. McKee, Adam Borics, Linton Vassell\u2014added global credibility. Weight management became a subplot: at least two fighters missed the contracted limit, forcing catchweight rulings and financial penalties that slightly altered bout conditions.<\/p>\n<h2>Main Event: Van Steenis vs. Edwards 2 (Play-by-play)<\/h2>\n<p>Round 1: The champion opened by targeting Edwards\u2019 legs with inside calf kicks and pushed a measured tempo that mixed kicks and clinch work. Edwards answered with front kicks and combinations, and a clash opened a small cut near van Steenis\u2019s left eye. Van Steenis repeatedly threatened with guillotine attempts and a late arm-triangle sequence as the round closed; three ringside scorers gave the frame to van Steenis, 10-9.<\/p>\n<p>Round 2: Van Steenis continued to employ leg attacks and showed effective top pressure when Edwards secured brief takedowns and guard time. Edwards attempted transitions and a kimura attempt during scrambles, but van Steenis landed heavy right hands and controlled position for long stretches, earning another 10-9 from all three judges.<\/p>\n<p>Round 3: The third round began with reciprocal calf kicks. Edwards committed to a low-level shot but left his head exposed; van Steenis seized the moment, locking a power guillotine sequence and then unloading a barrage of elbows to the temple and side of the head. With Edwards visibly compromised, referee Blake Grice halted the contest at 1:48 of round three, awarding van Steenis a KO (elbows). The stoppage followed earlier accumulations of positional control and well-timed finishing strikes.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; Implications<\/h2>\n<p>Van Steenis\u2019s victory cements him as the PFL middleweight standard and validates his July title run as more than a one-off. The finish\u2014grounded in both scramble control and strike precision\u2014shows his ability to turn clinch exchanges into fight-ending opportunities, a dangerous trait for the 185-pound division. For Edwards, the loss is a setback but not a career end; he remains a top-caliber middleweight with avenues for a rebound, especially if he tightens takedown setups and avoids extended clinch vulnerability.<\/p>\n<p>From a promotion standpoint, PFL\u2019s Madrid event demonstrated the league\u2019s capacity to hold major cards outside North America and to cultivate region-specific interest. The card\u2019s mixture of local names and international stars produced both decisive stoppages and competitive decisions that should help drive local fan engagement and ticket sales for future European dates. The two weight misses (Duragrin at featherweight and Cordero at bantamweight) highlight ongoing weight-cut management issues\u2014a recurring concern across the sport with implications for scheduling, purse penalties and fighter health policy.<\/p>\n<p>Sporting-wise, McKee\u2019s unanimous decision over Borics positions him closer to title contention in the featherweight tournament picture, while Linton Vassell\u2019s impressive stoppage at 42 underscores the value of experience and physical conditioning in the heavyweight-to-light-heavyweight corridors. Several Spanish athletes leaving Madrid with wins gives the PFL a stronger roster narrative in Europe ahead of Pittsburgh\u2019s next slate of matchups.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; Data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Bout<\/th>\n<th>Weight (lbs)<\/th>\n<th>Result<\/th>\n<th>Method<\/th>\n<th>Time \/ Round<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Costello van Steenis vs Fabian Edwards<\/td>\n<td>184.7 \/ 184.7<\/td>\n<td>Van Steenis (W)<\/td>\n<td>KO (Elbows)<\/td>\n<td>R3 1:48<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>A.J. McKee vs Adam Borics<\/td>\n<td>145.4 \/ 145.9<\/td>\n<td>McKee (W)<\/td>\n<td>Unanimous Decision<\/td>\n<td>3 Rounds (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Linton Vassell vs Jose Augusto<\/td>\n<td>242.5 \/ 261.5<\/td>\n<td>Vassell (W)<\/td>\n<td>TKO (Punches &#038; Elbows)<\/td>\n<td>R2 2:48<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Jacinta Austin vs Benita van Rooij<\/td>\n<td>115.6 \/ 115.4<\/td>\n<td>Austin (W)<\/td>\n<td>TKO (Punches)<\/td>\n<td>R1 2:40<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Luciano Pereira vs Kevin Cordero<\/td>\n<td>134.5 \/ 136.6 (miss)<\/td>\n<td>Pereira (W)<\/td>\n<td>KO (Punches)<\/td>\n<td>R1 2:10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>The table isolates headline outcomes and shows a mixed card: multiple early-round KOs\/TKOs combined with classic three-round decisions. Several finishes (including van Steenis\u2019s elbow KO and Pereira\u2019s early knockout) were the difference-makers in the promotion\u2019s scoring and momentum-building for the fighters involved.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; Quotes<\/h2>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;He&#8217;s out, he&#8217;s out,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Ringside crowd reaction (during van Steenis stoppage)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;Franco!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Fan chant (during Tenaglia vs Najid)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;I want the next challenges\u2014I&#8217;m ready for more,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Costello van Steenis (post-fight, paraphrased)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: PFL format, catchweights and common submissions<\/summary>\n<p>The Professional Fighters League runs both regular-season and tournament-style formats in some divisions; PFL cards also feature title fights where winners often secure season advantages. A catchweight bout is one where fighters compete above or below a division limit by mutual agreement, often triggered by a weight miss that usually incurs a purse penalty. Common ground submissions referenced in the card include guillotines, arm-triangles and rear-naked chokes; a brabo (or D\u2019Arce-style) choke is a compressive front neck hold often set from top-side control or during scrambles. Officials warn and penalize fence grabs and repeated illegal positional aids to preserve fair grappling competition.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>The long-term extent of Yassin Najid\u2019s shoulder injury and whether it will require surgery remains unconfirmed pending medical reports.<\/li>\n<li>Exact purse fines or percentage forfeitures for Kevin Cordero and Mathys Duragrin\u2019s weight misses were not disclosed publicly at the time of reporting.<\/li>\n<li>Any immediate rematch clauses or guaranteed next opponents for defeated contenders (beyond van Steenis expressing interest) are subject to PFL\u2019s official matchmaking decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>PFL Madrid delivered a milestone event for the promotion\u2019s European ambitions, crowned by Costello van Steenis\u2019s emphatic title defense and an evening that combined local heroes with international stars. The card reinforced van Steenis\u2019s legitimacy at middleweight and gave McKee, Vassell and others momentum moving into the PFL calendar\u2019s next phases.<\/p>\n<p>Operationally, the event spotlighted recurring industry issues\u2014weight management and late replacements\u2014while also demonstrating that PFL can stage marketable, competitive cards outside the U.S. Fans should watch Pittsburgh next week where winners from Madrid and other shows will influence tournament trajectories and title picture matchups across multiple divisions.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sherdog.com\/news\/news\/PFL-Madrid-Van-Steenis-vs-Edwards-2-playbyplay-results-round-scoring-200522\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sherdog \u2014 event live play-by-play and results (independent MMA journalism)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pflmma.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PFL Official Site \u2014 promotion event and athlete information (official)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead: On Friday, March 20 in Madrid, PFL staged its first major card in Spain, headlined by a rematch for the middleweight title between Costello van Steenis and Fabian Edwards. Van Steenis retained the belt with a third-round stoppage by elbows at 1:48, while the card produced multiple decisive finishes and several unanimous decisions across &#8230; <a title=\"PFL Madrid: Van Steenis vs. Edwards 2 \u2014 Play-by-play, Results &#038; Round Scoring\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/pfl-madrid-van-steenis-edwards\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about PFL Madrid: Van Steenis vs. Edwards 2 \u2014 Play-by-play, Results &#038; Round Scoring\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":25017,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"PFL Madrid: Van Steenis vs Edwards 2 \u2014 Full Recap | DeepCut","rank_math_description":"Van Steenis retained the PFL middleweight title in Madrid on March 20, stopping Fabian Edwards in R3. Read our full play-by-play, scores, key takeaways and implications.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"pfl,madrid,van-steenis,edwards,results","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25025","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25025"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25025\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25017"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25025"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25025"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25025"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}