Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen was lower than two weeks away from a title protection towards Fabian Edwards when he obtained phrase that his battle was being moved.
Simply 11 days earlier than the Bellator London card befell, Eblen’s battle with Edwards was instantly faraway from the occasion and ultimately rescheduled for the PFL pay-per-view present on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia. No clarification was given and even Eblen admits he was by no means informed why the change was made.
“They simply moved the battle,” Eblen informed MMA Preventing. “Undecided precisely what occurred. I used to be ready to battle in London and I used to be truly fairly excited for it. However you recognize they moved it, I’m an organization man so I did what they wished me to do. They took care of me although, so there’s no challenge and now I’m able to go battle in Saudi Arabia.”
On the subject of PFL caring for him, Eblen didn’t disclose if that meant a payout for the disruption to his coaching camp however no matter occurred, he was happy sufficient to roll with the punches.
Whereas he was targeted on peaking for the occasion on Sept. 14, Eblen in the end shut down his coaching to relaxation his physique after which choose again up once more to organize for Oct. 19 as an alternative.
“It modified loads,” Eblen stated about his coaching camp. “Like I stated, they took care of me. I’m not having any points with it. I took a few weeks off, did some gentle coaching after which I’m going to peak once more [Oct. 19] and I go away in two and a half [weeks].
“I’m in form. Simply took a while off sparring, obtained again into sparring this week. Simply going to do a small little camp earlier than I’m going again out.”
The change additionally affected plans that Eblen had with family and friends touring to see him battle.
He revealed that a big group of supporters have been set to attend the Bellator London card however that’s not the case along with his title protection now going down in Saudi Arabia.
That inconvenience might have truly served as an even bigger annoyance than the interruption to his coaching camp however Eblen is aware of the group, his family and friends in attendance or the quantity of journey concerned going to the occasion don’t matter as a lot as going out and successful when it truly comes time to battle.
“I’ve already been to Saudi Arabia,” Eblen defined. “There’s simply not as a lot to do afterwards. Much less individuals are prone to go simply because it’s a lot additional. London, I had a giant group going. It will have been enjoyable to hang around with them after. Saudi’s somewhat bit completely different story. Much less individuals are going to indicate as much as that one however it’s what it’s. No huge deal.
“I’ve been to Saudi earlier than, I actually take pleasure in it. They’ve nice hospitality. I preferred combating there final time. I don’t care [if I’m not the main event]. I receives a commission the identical. No huge deal to me.”
On the subject of his opposition, Eblen is definitely going through Edwards in a rematch after they simply fought again in September 2023. On that night time, Eblen scored a 3rd spherical knockout with each fighters selecting up a single win since that encounter.
A second battle coming collectively so rapidly most likely appears odd however Eblen wasn’t completely shocked when Edwards was introduced as his subsequent opponent.
“I imply there’s no one else actually,” Eblen stated. “It’s sort of the issue of Bellator for the time being and even PFL, they don’t actually recruit middleweights as a result of they don’t have a middleweight division. It’s what it’s.”
So far as working it again with somebody he simply knocked out a yr in the past, Eblen doesn’t take a look at the rematch as a possible stumbling block simply because he already has a win over Edwards.
As a substitute, Eblen prefers to maintain the give attention to himself and the individual standing throughout from him when the battle begins doesn’t actually matter a lot ultimately.
“I already beat him,” Eblen stated. “I don’t actually take into consideration that. I simply take into consideration getting higher. I’m probably not fearful in regards to the individuals I battle.
“They’re simply going to place any individual in entrance of me and that’s the person who I’ve obtained to battle, no matter who it’s, whether or not it’s an individual I’ve already fought or any individual I’ve by no means fought. I simply do my job. So long as the verify clears, I’m good.”
