MMA
PFL Champions Series Africa: Eblen vs van Steenis Odds, Tips and Predictions
PFL Champions Series Africa: Eblen vs van Steenis Odds, Tips and Predictions Date: Saturday, 19 July 2025 Time: 7:00 PM CAT (6:00 PM BST) Venue: Grand Arena, Grand West, Cape Town Broadcaster: Available on Stake stream and ESPN+ SportsBoom previews the PFL Champions Series Africa main event as American powerhouse Johnny Eblen takes on submission-savvy Costello "The Spaniard" van Steenis. It’s a battle of unbeaten resolve versus Euro grind. Eblen is the PFL Bellator crossover king who likes to win methodically. Van Steenis prefers to wrap you up like a Christmas present and ruin your night. Pretoria hosts a middleweight title fight that might be 25 minutes of wrestling hell, or a sudden twist courtesy of a sneaky Dutch choke. For fans looking to place a wager, there are plenty of competitive lines available across the top MMA betting platforms.
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Johnny Eblen and Johnny Eblen/Getty Images
Unstoppable Meets Unsubmittable
Johnny Eblen is the type of fighter who wins rounds like some people collect coffee stamps. Relentless wrestling, suffocating top control, and an ability to make even elite opponents look like they’re trying MMA for the first time. He’s riding a win streak that includes dominant performances over Gegard Mousasi, Fabian Edwards (twice), and Impa Kasanganay. Only three of those wins came via KO. The man doesn’t just win, he wins unanimously.
On the other side is Costello van Steenis, the quietly dangerous submission artist with a chip on his shoulder. He's been running hot with wins over João Vitor Dantas and Gregory Babene, both finished inside two rounds. But three of his career losses have come via decision, and guess what Johnny Eblen specializes in?
It’s wrestling versus jiu-jitsu, grind versus trap, and a perfect record versus a man with every reason to try and break it.
Pre-Fight Odds and Win Probability: Eblen Favoured
Johnny Eblen: 4/9 (1.44) – 69.4%
Costello van Steenis: 7/4 (2.75) – 36.4%
Odds courtesy of Stake, subject to change.The sports betting online market aren’t taking chances here. Eblen’s pristine record and elite cardio have him locked in as the favourite. But for those eyeing submission threats and wild scrambles, van Steenis offers some cheeky value. Just don’t expect the betting public to agree
Tale of the Tape
| Attribute | Johnny Eblen | Costello van Steenis |
| Age | 33 | 32 |
| Height | 6'1" (185 cm) | 6'1" (185 cm) |
| Weight | 170 lbs (77 kg) | 170 lbs (77 kg) |
| Reach | 74.0" (188 cm) | 76.0" (193 cm) |
| Record | 16-0-0 | 16-3-0 |
| KO/TKO | 3 wins (19%) | 4 wins (25%) |
| Submission | 4 wins (25%) | 8 wins (50%) |
| Decisions | 9 wins (56%) | 3 wins (19%), 3 losses |
Johnny Eblen News
Training out of American Top Team, Eblen holds a perfect 16-0 record and has become the template for cardio-heavy, positionally dominant middleweights. His last five wins read like a who’s who of elite opposition. He shut down Fabian Edwards in October 2024, ran through Kasanganay in a gritty PFL versus Bellator showdown, and made Anatoly Tokov look like a regional call-up. The man doesn’t get hit much. He doesn’t take risks. He just buries you under pressure and wins on all three cards. Again. His foundation in wrestling, paired with ever-improving striking, has made him a puzzle yet to be solved. The deeper the fight goes, the more he seems to thrive, breaking opponents mentally as much as physically. He’s methodical, composed, and never bites on desperation. You don't win nine decisions at this level by accident.
Costello van Steenis News
With a 16-3 record, "The Spaniard" might be Dutch by residence, but his submission game is all jiu-jitsu nightmare. Van Steenis rebounded from a tough loss to Douglas Lima with back-to-back finishes: a Von Flue choke over Babene and a first-round head kick KO of Dantas. He's shown growth, patience, and the kind of unpredictability that can rattle wrestlers. But his three decision losses expose a problem. If he doesn’t finish you, he rarely wins. That said, his grappling creativity and ability to snatch submissions from awkward angles make him one of the most dangerous middleweights off his back. Eblen can’t afford even a moment of complacency if the fight hits the mat. He’s slick in transition and thrives in chaos, and if there’s any lull in pace, he’s the type to spring a finish from nowhere.
Suggested Bets
Eblen to Win by Decision: With 9 of 16 wins by decision and van Steenis' durability, this is classic Eblen grind territory. 11/10 (2.10) – 47.6% with Stake
Juliet Ukah to Win: Undefeated at 6-0, the Nigerian flyweight has been steamrolling her regional competition. She's cleaner, meaner, and vastly more experienced than Niedermayr. 8/15 (1.53) – 65.2% with 1Win
Fight Goes Distance – Babouly vs Medkouri: Both are heavyweights, yes. But both are also decision-heavy and know how to survive. 3/2 (2.50) – 40% with Betandyou
Value Bets
van Steenis by Submission: It’s his clearest path and his most potent weapon. If Eblen gets lazy in a scramble, it’s lights out. 6/1 (7.00) – 14.3% with BetWinner
Draw – Hokonya vs Majorique: Two unbeaten bantamweights with identical records and iron chins. Could be razor-thin. 33/1 (34.00) – 2.9% with Pinnacle
Justin Clarke to Win: South African underdog, undefeated, and fighting at home? We’ll take the hype. 3/1 (4.00) – 25% with Betway
Prediction: Other fights to note
Dakota Ditcheva vs Sumiko Inaba: Ditcheva is a certified wrecking ball at flyweight, and Inaba has never faced someone with this kind of finishing precision. Expect early aggression from Dakota, who’s looking to send a message in the co-main. Inaba will need to rely on her toughness and cardio just to make this competitive.
Corey Anderson vs Denis Goltsov: Yes, it’s a light heavyweight versus a heavyweight, but stylistically, this one is fascinating. Anderson’s wrestling could neutralise Goltsov’s size, but if he gets lazy in the clinch, Goltsov might only need one. Grappling-heavy, potentially grindy, and surprisingly tense.
AJ McKee Jr. vs Akhmed Magomedov: McKee’s explosiveness meets Magomedov’s stoic efficiency in a sleeper for fight of the night. If McKee plays patient, he wins. But if he goes full chaos early, Magomedov’s counters could catch him cold. Momentum versus precision, bet accordingly.
Prediction: Eblen by Decision
Unless van Steenis lands a submission trap early, this will look familiar: takedowns, cage control, positional dominance. Eblen’s not flashy, but he’s painfully efficient. Expect Costello to show flashes, maybe a few submission threats in round one. But once Eblen starts building pressure, he doesn't stop. By round three, expect Pretoria to be watching a wrestling seminar. For those watching the markets closely might even spot a sign up bonus worth taking into the final round.
Joshua Gaillard is a freelance editor and dedicated Arsenal fan, known for creating fact-based, insightful content. His work, featured on top South African websites, blends analysis with engaging storytelling for clear, impactful articles.
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