Costello van Steenis Defends Middleweight Title with Brutal Elbow KO at PFL Madrid
Costello van Steenis successfully retained his middleweight championship at PFL Madrid, securing his first title defense with a spectacular elbow knockout victory over Fabian Edwards.
The opening round saw both fighters vying for control, but van Steenis gained a late advantage. He thwarted Edwards' takedown attempt and briefly threatened with a guillotine choke. Although Edwards defended, he conceded top position to the reigning champion, likely giving van Steenis the lead after the initial five minutes.
Edwards resumed his grappling strategy in the second round, momentarily taking van Steenis to the mat. However, this success was fleeting. With just over two minutes remaining, van Steenis skillfully reversed the position, gaining Edwards' back and attempting a rear-naked choke.
Edwards managed to survive the round, even getting back to his feet and landing some strikes towards the end. Nevertheless, van Steenis's consistent offense meant he held a clear two-round lead going into the final stanza.
Despite his previous limited success with wrestling, Edwards once again pursued a takedown in round three. This led him into danger, as he narrowly escaped another tight guillotine. As Edwards continued his takedown attempt, he inadvertently left his head exposed. Van Steenis capitalized immediately, unleashing a barrage of short elbows against the fence that rendered Edwards unconscious.
Official Result: Costello van Steenis defeated Fabian Edwards by knockout (elbows) at 1:48 of Round 3.
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