Van Steenis Ends Edwards' Title Dream Again

Edwards earned nan title opportunity aft winning nan PFL's 2025 middleweight tournament, and was looking to go champion aft 2 defeats by Johnny Eblen for nan Bellator middleweight title.

Edwards was besides looking to subordinate his relative Leon, who is simply a erstwhile UFC welterweight champion, arsenic a title holder, but was made to salary for a number of errors.

After walkouts successful which a assured Edwards was jeered by nan Spanish fans and a determined-looking Van Steenis was roared to nan cage, nan title started pinch nan brace trading limb kicks.

In a adjacent first round, Edwards made his first correction arsenic Van Steenis reversed nan action connected nan crushed to extremity successful apical position, contempt humor pouring from his near eye.

In strategies seldom utilized by Edwards, nan Briton looked to onslaught pinch takedowns but Van Steenis sewage nan amended of nan early exchanges by flipping nan momentum to power wherever nan conflict went.

When Edwards opted to strike, he looked faster and much vulnerable than Van Steenis, but different correction successful nan 3rd information would beryllium to beryllium his downfall.

Edwards again continued to wrestle and, while trying to return Van Steenis down against nan cage, nan champion delivered a flurry of elbows which forced nan Briton to illness connected his knees.

Seeing Edwards was successful trouble, nan referee stepped successful to extremity nan contest, earlier Van Steenis put some arms retired successful ceremony and closed his eyes arsenic he soaked successful applause from nan location fans.

Defeat for Edwards caps a miserable play for nan Birmingham fighter, aft Leon suffered his 3rd consecutive conclusion erstwhile being knocked retired by Carlos Prates successful November.

Despite a 3rd conclusion successful a title fight, Van Steenis says Edwards still has what it takes to triumph a world title.

"He is 1 of nan guys that could person been champion and could beryllium champion successful nan future, but not by fighting me," said Van Steenis.

"I was really amazed that he tried to wrestle me. In nan first conflict he was really cocky and aggressive. In this fight, he didn't really look astatine maine that much.

"He is 1 of nan champion fighters successful nan world and truthful americium I. It takes 2 group to make a awesome fight. Fabian tin hit anybody successful nan world, it was conscionable my fortunate nighttime tonight."