Costello Van Steenis Victorious: Retains PFL Middleweight World Title in Madrid

The Professional Fighters League (PFL) event in Madrid culminated in a triumphant night for Costello van Steenis (18-3), who successfully defended his PFL Middleweight World Title on home soil. His victory marked a historic moment, as he became the first main event winner in Spain's inaugural major MMA show.

In a hard-fought battle, "The Spaniard" Van Steenis faced Fabian Edwards (16-5) for a second time. The decisive moment came in the third round when Edwards attempted a takedown, inadvertently putting himself in a vulnerable position against the fence. Van Steenis capitalized, unleashing a barrage of elbows that rendered Edwards unconscious, securing the knockout win.

The co-main event featured AJ "Mercenary" McKee (24-2), who delivered a masterful and comprehensive performance, earning a unanimous decision victory over Ádám "The Kid" Borics (20-4). McKee’s dominant display underscored his status as an elite featherweight, positioning him firmly in contention for the 145 lb championship.

Franco "El Rey de la Calle" Tenaglia (6-2) also celebrated a victory at the Palacio Vistalegre. His bout against French opponent Yassin "The Scientist" Najid (9-6) ended prematurely when Najid dislocated his shoulder while bracing against Tenaglia's takedown attempt. The doctor intervened at the end of round two, awarding the TKO win to Tenaglia. The former BKFC Champion, hailing from Argentina, was warmly received by the Spanish crowd in his impressive PFL debut.

Jacinta "The Juggernaut" Austin (9-2) made a significant impact on the large PFL Madrid stage, securing a quick first-round knockout victory over Benita van Rooij (7-2). Austin dropped Rooij with a powerful right hand, then followed up with relentless ground-and-pound, delivering a memorable performance in the strawweight division.

The main card's opening heavyweight clash saw Linton "The Big Swarm" Vassell (26-10, 1 NC) deliver an exciting TKO victory against Jose "Gugu" Augusto (11-6). After a successful takedown, Vassell unleashed heavy ground-and-pound, prompting the referee to stop the fight. At 42 years old, Vassell demonstrated that age is no barrier to success in the cage.

PFL Madrid Event Results:

• PFL Middleweight World Title Main Event: C-Costello van Steenis def. #2-Fabian Edwards by KO (elbows), Round 3, 1:48
• Featherweight Co-Main Event: #2-AJ McKee def. #4-Adam Borics by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
• Welterweight Bout: Franco Tenaglia def. Yassin Najid by TKO (doctor stoppage), Round 2, 5:00
• Women’s Strawweight Bout: Jacinta Austin def. Benita Van Rooij by KO, Round 1, 2:40
• Heavyweight Bout: #4-Linton Vassell def. Jose Augusto by TKO (punches), Round 2, 2:48

Preliminary Card Results:

• Bantamweight Bout: Luciano Pereira def. Kevin Cordero by knockout (punch), Round 1, 2:10
• Flyweight Bout: Borja Garcia def. Rafael Calderon by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• Lightweight Bout: Gino van Steenis def. Mark Ewen by knockout (punch), Round 1, 2:43
• Bantamweight Bout: Mattia Giordano def. Ernesto Schisano by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
• 165-Pound Contract Weight Bout: Claudio Pacella def. David Mora by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27)
• Featherweight Bout: Ignacio Campos def. Mathys Duragrin by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)