Johnny Eblen in all probability didn’t have the efficiency he needed however he’ll nonetheless depart Saudi Arabia as Bellator middleweight champion with a unanimous determination win over Fabian Edwards at PFL: Battle of the Giants.
A robust begin with superior wrestling and grappling saved Eblen up early however Edwards managed a late comeback that just about shifted the momentum to his favor. Sadly, Edwards simply waited too lengthy to get film and Eblen had already racked up sufficient on the scorecards to carry onto the victory.
All three judges scored the struggle 48-47 with Eblen remaining undefeated with the fourth protection of his middleweight title.
“I sort of light slightly bit,” Eblen mentioned afterwards. “I’m fairly happy. I want I might have ended it once more. Fabian’s a prime stage man. He’s among the finest on the planet.”
Eblen wasted no time setting the tempo early as he established himself within the middle of the cage and repeatedly discovered a house for a stiff proper hand on Edwards’ chin. Whereas Edwards saved trying to arrange a well-timed uppercut, Eblen averted that punch earlier than dashing ahead and searching for the takedown.
Time and again, Eblen rag dolled Edwards across the cage because the British middleweight struggled to take care of the Bellator champion’s superior wrestling and grappling. As time handed, Eblen’s means to tug Edwards to the canvas appeared to get simpler, though he wasn’t in a position to produce a lot offense with the superior place.
Nonetheless, Eblen maintained management as he saved transferring Edwards across the cage after which bringing him crashing again to the bottom.
When the struggle did keep on the toes, Edwards lastly began to attach with a number of photographs however he simply couldn’t maintain Eblen from slipping inside and pressuring him again to the cage once more. As a result of Edwards was so cautious about getting taken down once more, he was usually solely throwing one strike at a time and that was a lot simpler for Eblen to keep away from.
Even with Edwards in a defensive posture, Eblen nonetheless managed to discover a option to constantly toss him again to the bottom as time began operating out on the two-time title challenger.
It wasn’t till the ultimate body when Edwards lastly began throwing warning to the wind as a result of he knew a end was the one approach he had an opportunity to win. Edwards stabbed at Eblen with a very good lead jab and even threw a number of slick inside elbows simply making an attempt something to inflict some injury.
Edwards was additionally digging to the physique with some nasty knees however he simply ran out of time earlier than he might produce a knockout to drag off the comeback win. Whereas it definitely wasn’t the final spherical that Eblen needed, he nonetheless survived the late onslaught to get the choice and retain his title.
Now 16-0 in his profession, Eblen’s greatest downside transferring ahead is perhaps discovering worthwhile competitors to maintain him now that he already has a pair of wins over Edwards.
