Another major name from PFL might soon join the UFC.
Patchy Mix, a former Bellator bantamweight champion, is set to debut at UFC 316 on Saturday, marking the latest significant fighter to transition from PFL to MMA`s premier stage.
Both Mix and the legendary Patricio Pitbull have voiced criticism regarding the lack of opportunities in PFL, and they were not the only ones feeling this frustration.
Given the limited events scheduled for top athletes in 2025, many are wondering if more fighters will make the switch. It appears one of PFL`s top competitors is nearing the opportunity to do so.
Johnny Eblen Announces PFL Contract Expires in 2026, Hinting at Potential UFC Move
Johnny Eblen, an undefeated middleweight widely recognized in the sport, was among the Bellator champions who transitioned to PFL after its 2023 acquisition.
While not as outspoken as some others, Eblen has clearly expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of activity in PFL.
Despite preparing for his return bout at the high-profile PFL Cape Town event in July, `Johnny Pressure` appears to be already looking towards opportunities beyond PFL.
Speaking on the Fight In Sight podcast, Eblen revealed: “Early next year, my contract expires… It’s just however that plays out. Maybe I fight once, don’t fight again, contract expires, we’ll see what we do.”
“I beat this guy (Costello van Steenis), but I`m not fighting the top five guys in the world, plain and simple,” he said. “I’m a top five guy, top three, I think I’m the best. But it sucks when you’re there and you can’t fight guys ranked either ahead of you or just below.”
“I just want to fight, but most importantly, I want to fight the best guys in the world,” Eblen continued. “I want to fight the [Khamzat] Chimaevs, I want to fight the [Dricus] du Plessis’…there’s no capacity for me to do that with where I’m at currently.”
Johnny Eblen Endorsed as `Best Middleweight in the World` Over Du Plessis and Chimaev
Holding a 16-0 record and coming off a dominant Bellator title reign with three successful defenses, Eblen is widely considered one of the premier fighters competing outside the UFC.
However, Eblen`s coach at American Top Team, Mike Brown, holds an even higher opinion of the 33-year-old.
Speaking to MMA Fighting, Brown stated that his fighter is the best at 185 pounds, surpassing both Du Plessis, the reigning UFC champion, and his upcoming opponent, Chimaev.
“Johnny Eblen is the best middleweight in the world,” Brown asserted. “Today, right now, he is the best middleweight in the world. You put him against anybody and he wins, I believe that.”
“Striking, conditioning, grappling, wrestling… if things go wrong in the fight, he finds ways to overcome it. A bad cut? Getting rocked? Whatever, he finds a way.”
“The sport is crazy, anything can happen. But I think this guy is the best middleweight in the world,” Brown concluded.
Following his awaited return bout against Van Steenis on July 19, Eblen will undoubtedly be paying close attention to Du Plessis and Chimaev`s headliner at UFC 319 in August.
By all indications, PFL would need exceptional negotiation skills to persuade the undefeated middleweight against pursuing bouts with fighters like ‘Stillknocks’ and ‘Borz’ inside the Octagon.
