A rematch for the Bellator Middleweight Championship is back on the schedule.
Undefeated incumbent champ Johnny Eblen and England’s Fabian Edwards are now expected to meet at PFL’s October 19th pay-per-view show in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, per a recent announcement.
The change pushes forward a rematch between Eblen and Edwards by just a month. The duo were previously expected to collide at a Bellator card last weekend in London, England, however it was noted just a little over a week before the event that the fight would be rescheduled.
Eblen has held Bellator’s 185-pound division title since mid-June when he dethroned Gegard Mousasi with a five-round decision win. He has defended his title twice since then, including a third-round finish win against Edwards last September.
Edwards fought his way to a second title shot earlier this year, beating Canada’s Aaron Jeffery in a #1 contenders fight. The 31-year-old has fought on the Bellator roster since 2017, attaining nine wins through 12 appearances.
The upcoming booking is expected to be Eblen’s second appearance of the year. He overcame 2023 PFL champ Impa Kasanganay in a three-round non-title fight in February, winning via split decision.
PFL’s upcoming “Battle of the Giants” card is expected to be stacked, with the biggest fight being the return of former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou. Here’s how the card looks currently:
Bout 4: Francis Ngannou (17-3) vs. Renan Ferrera (13-3) (Heavyweight)
Bout 3: Cris Cyborg (27-2) vs. Larissa Pacheco (23-4) (Featherweight)
Bout 2: AJ McKee Jr. (22-1) vs. Paul Hughes (12-1) (Lightweight)
Bout 1: Johnny Eblen (15-0) vs. Fabian Edwards (13-3) (Bellator Middleweight Championship)
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