‘Forget safety’ – Fabian Edwards vows to score statement KO as PFL beats UFC in race to historic location

Fabian Edwards has vowed to blow his next opponent’s ‘chin off his shoulders’ as he prepares to main event PFL Madrid.

The PFL has announced it will enter Spain for the first time with a show in Madrid on March 20.

PFL

In a big sign of things to come in 2026, the promotion heads to the Palacio Vistalegre for PFL Madrid, beating its biggest rivals, the UFC, to a debut live event in the country.

Spain’s Costello van Steenis has been booked to defend his PFL middleweight world title against Briton Fabian Edwards in the main event.

Van Steenis claimed the belt by submitting the previously undefeated Johnny Eblen in Cape Town in July.

‘The Spaniard’ put Eblen to sleep with nine seconds left of their five-round fight at PFL Africa 1, and has since expressed his desire to bring the strap to his hometown.

Edwards, meanwhile, became the PFL’s middleweight tournament champion through a vicious head-kick win over Dalton Rosta in August.

In a knockout scarily similar to his older brother’s viral finish of Kamaru Usman in 2022, ‘The Assassin’ flattened Rosta in devastating fashion to win the tournament at 185lbs and $500,000.

Edwards fought van Steenis to a razor-thin split decision defeat in 2020, and their second meeting in the main event of PFL Madrid marks a huge occasion for the organisation as they attempt to close the gap to Dana White‘s UFC.

Fabian Edwards predicts knockout performance at PFL Madrid

Speaking to talkSPORT.com, Edwards vowed to repeat his performance against Rosta when he heads to Madrid.

“It’s a perfect way to go to Spain and announce yourself, you’ve got two explosive fighters in the main event, someone’s going to get knocked out, and it ain’t going to be me,” Edwards said.

“My skills have changed [since the last fight], but the main thing has been my mindset and approach to this game.

Cooper Neill / PFL

“I was watching the fight yesterday on the toilet, and I was cringing. I couldn’t believe that was me in there.

“At that time, I’d never taken a loss before; that fight was too safe, and this one, forget safety, I’m getting in the car with no seatbelt!

“I’m a different fighter now. If he thinks it’s going to be the same, he’s in for a rude awakening.

“I’m going in there to get in his face straight away and have a fight… To beat him is not enough for me, I need to go in there and make a statement.”

Edwards described his ‘ideal scenario’ as defending the title in his native Birmingham by the end of 2026.

He mentioned a possible trilogy with van Steenis, or a mouthwatering clash with new signing Bryan Battle, before delivering his final prediction.

Cooper Neill / PFL

“It’s going to be a finish, I feel it, I really do feel it. I’m going to be prepping in a way for a finish,” Edwards added.

“I feel like I’m tough enough to take his shots and to go through what I need to go through to get that win.

“My prediction would be a third or fourth round finish for myself.”

On entering enemy territory, Edwards concluded: “At the end of the day, people love a good fight.

“They might boo me, but once I go in there and blow his chin off his shoulders, they’re going to be cheering me on.”

PFL CEO John Martin: We will put on an event for the ages in Madrid

PFL CEO John Martin has promised an ‘unforgettable evening’ as the promotion gears up for its first event in Spain.

Cooper Neill / PFL

“We are making history by becoming the first global MMA company to host an event in Spain, and we are going to make it an unforgettable evening of elite action at Palacio Vistalegre on Friday, March 20,” Martin said.

Martin was named PFL CEO in July, having previously served as CEO of Turner LLC and chief financial officer of Time Warner.

“Costello van Steenis had a storybook ending in Cape Town with one of the biggest comebacks in the sport’s history,” he added.

“His tale continues as he comes to Madrid with the flag of Spain on one shoulder and the world title on the other.

“Edwards is also riding a huge wave of momentum, and also had a massive win in his last fight to win the PFL Tournament Title.

“With these two at the top of the card, we’re going to stack the rest of the evening and put on an event for the ages.”

PFL Madrid marks a significant chapter in the tenure of Martin, who will oversee his first European show for the promotion in Lyon this weekend.

The PFL are also booked for Dubai, Pittsburgh and Chicago in its first four locations of 2026.

UFC CEO White has stated numerous times that he intends to put on a show in Madrid in the not-too-distant future.

Ilia Topuria of Spain is the current UFC lightweight champion and has also teased bringing MMA’s biggest leagues to a stadium like the Santiago Bernabeu.

But it is the PFL that has won the race to Madrid, with more fights to be announced in the coming days.

Pre-sale tickets for the event are available now, with tickets to go on general sale from December 15 at 11 am UK time here.