PFL Origins: Eblen vs Van Steenis | Middleweight Title Showdown at PFL Africa 1

The stakes are high and history is on the line as Johnny Eblen prepares to defend his middleweight crown against challenger Costello Van Steenis at PFL Africa 1. In this PFL Origins episode, fans get a rare behind-the-scenes look into both fighters’ training camps, travel, and mindset ahead of the league’s first-ever event on African soil.

The Professional Fighters League makes a bold move with its international expansion, hosting #PFLCapeTown in South Africa — and putting the middleweight title on the line in the main event. Eblen, undefeated and widely considered one of the most complete 185ers in the world, faces a dangerous striker in Van Steenis, who’s hungry to make his mark on the global stage.

This feature dives deep into their motivations, preparation, and the cultural weight of bringing a world championship bout to Cape Town. With co-main fights like Inaba vs Ditcheva and Anderson vs Goltsov rounding out the card, PFL Africa 1 promises to be a landmark night for the sport.

Watch the full PFL Origins episode now and see how two elite middleweights approach the biggest fight of their careers — in a location that’s never seen MMA on this scale before.