Costello van Steenis Defends PFL Middleweight Championship in Historic Madrid Event

PFL Madrid culminated in a triumphant celebration as Costello van Steenis (18-3) successfully defended his PFL Middleweight World Title on his home turf. This historic victory cemented his place as the first main event winner in Spain's inaugural major MMA show.

After a grueling back-and-forth contest, "The Spaniard" van Steenis secured his second career win over Fabian Edwards (16-5). In the third round, Edwards attempted a takedown, inadvertently placing himself in a vulnerable position against the fence, allowing Costello to deliver a barrage of elbows that rendered Edwards unconscious.

In the Co-Main Event, AJ "Mercenary" McKee (24-2) emphatically reminded the mixed martial arts world of his elite status in the featherweight division. He showcased a dominant and comprehensive performance, earning a unanimous decision victory against Ádám "The Kid" Borics (20-4). With this momentum, McKee is now a strong contender for the 145 lb championship gold.

Franco "El Rey de la Calle" Tenaglia (6-2) emerged victorious against his French opponent Yassin "The Scientist" Najid (9-6) at the Palacio Vistalegre. The bout concluded at the end of the second round via doctor's stoppage when Najid dislocated his shoulder while bracing against Tenaglia's takedown attempt. The former BKFC Champion from Argentina captivated the Spanish fans in his PFL debut, hinting at a promising future in the organization.

Jacinta "The Juggernaut" Austin (9-2) capitalized on the grand stage of PFL Madrid, securing an impressive first-round knockout victory over Benita van Rooij (7-2). Austin dropped van Rooij with a powerful right hand, swiftly following up with relentless ground-and-pound in a standout strawweight performance.

The Main Card commenced with a heavyweight showdown where Linton "The Big Swarm" Vassell (26-10, 1 NC) delivered a show-stopping performance. He secured a TKO victory over Jose "Gugu" Augusto (11-6) after executing a takedown and unleashing heavy ground-and-pound, forcing the referee to intervene. At 42 years young, Vassell proved that age is nothing more than a number.

Complete PFL Madrid Fight Outcomes:

Main Card Results:

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

Preliminary Card Results:

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