PFL Madrid: van Steenis vs. Edwards 2 Recap: Full Results and Analysis

Madrid, Spain – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) made a thunderous debut in Spain on March 20, 2026, with a sold-out event at the Palacio Vistalegre in Madrid. The night was headlined by a highly anticipated middleweight world title rematch, which saw champion Costello "The Spaniard" van Steenis deliver a spectacular knockout victory over Fabian "The Assassin" Edwards, solidifying his reign and thrilling his home country crowd. The co-main event featured a masterful tactical performance from A.J. McKee, who outpointed Ádám Borics, while the undercard was filled with explosive finishes and hard-fought decisions, marking a successful and memorable European expansion for the PFL.

1. Van Steenis Crowned Champion with Stunning Knockout

In a fight that had both personal and professional stakes, Costello van Steenis (18-3) left no doubt as to who is the king of the PFL's middleweight division. He successfully defended his world title for the first time, stopping challenger Fabian Edwards (16-5) with a series of vicious elbows at 1:48 of the third round. This victory not only cemented his championship status but also decisively settled his rivalry with Edwards, whom he had previously defeated via a close split decision in 2020.

The fight began with a surprising tactical approach from Edwards, who, despite his striking prowess, repeatedly sought to engage in grappling exchanges. Van Steenis, a formidable grappler himself, effectively neutralized these attempts, defending takedowns against the fence. The champion's superior conditioning became evident as the fight progressed. "I saw him sitting down breathing very heavy," van Steenis noted in his post-fight interview. "I was like 'Oh this guy is tired already.'"

While the first two rounds were a tactical chess match, with the referee even warning Edwards for inactivity in the clinch, the third round saw van Steenis assert his dominance. After stuffing another takedown attempt, "The Spaniard" unleashed a torrent of short, brutal elbows that sent an exhausted Edwards to the canvas, forcing the referee to intervene and stop the contest.

The victory was a storybook moment for van Steenis, who had expressed his dream of defending his title in his home country. "This is a victory already that this fight is happening in Madrid," he stated pre-fight, acknowledging his role in bringing the PFL to Spain. Post-fight, his confidence was palpable. "I told you I was going to finish him... I'm the best middleweight in the world. I could beat anybody."

This win sets up a highly anticipated future title defense against the winner of the upcoming PFL Pittsburgh main event between former champion Johnny Eblen and promotional newcomer Bryan Battle.

2. McKee Secures Victory in a Tactical Co-Main Event

In the co-main event, former Bellator featherweight champion A.J. "Mercenary" McKee (24-2) delivered a masterful performance, securing a clear unanimous decision victory over the tough and highly-ranked Ádám "The-Wolverine" Borics (20-4). The judges' scorecards read 30-27, 30-27, and 29-28, reflecting McKee's control and superior striking throughout the three-round contest.

The fight was billed as a classic striker vs. grappler matchup, but McKee flipped the script, choosing to engage Borics primarily on the feet. This proved to be a "strategic masterpiece," as McKee's speed and precision striking were the deciding factors. He consistently landed the more significant and impactful shots, keeping Borics a step behind, particularly in the opening two rounds. While Borics had his moments with counterstrikes and a late flurry in the third, he was unable to mount enough sustained offense to sway the judges.

McKee's adaptability was on full display. Known for his world-class grappling, which has seen him secure a high percentage of his wins by submission, he demonstrated a well-rounded and evolved skill set. He did secure one takedown in the final round, but it was his striking that truly told the story of the fight. This victory, his third since joining the PFL and his second straight at featherweight, firmly re-establishes him as a top contender for the 145-pound championship.

3. Explosive Finishes Light Up the Madrid Card

The PFL's Spanish debut was not short on action, with several fighters delivering highlight-reel finishes that had the Madrid crowd on its feet.

• Linton Vassell def. Jose Augusto via TKO (Ground-and-Pound) - Round 2, 2:48 In a heavyweight clash, veteran Linton Vassell proved to be too much for his late-replacement opponent, Jose Augusto. After a competitive first round, Vassell imposed his will in the second, securing a takedown and transitioning to a dominant position where he rained down a series of unanswered strikes, forcing the referee to stop the fight. It was an impressive return for Vassell after a 16-month layoff.

• Franco Tenaglia def. Yassin Najid via TKO (Doctor Stoppage) - Round 2, 5:00 Former Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC) world champion Franco Tenaglia made a successful PFL debut, though not in the way many expected. After being controlled on the ground for much of the first round, Tenaglia's grappling defense resulted in a dislocated arm for Yassin Najid. The injury was severe enough that the doctor called a halt to the contest at the end of the second round, awarding Tenaglia the TKO victory.

• Jacinta Austin def. Benita van Rooij via TKO (Strikes) - Round 1, 2:40 Australia's Jacinta Austin made a statement in the women's flyweight division with a blistering first-round TKO. Austin, leveraging her kickboxing background, overwhelmed Benita van Rooij with a barrage of strikes, securing the finish in under three minutes and marking herself as a serious contender to watch.

• Luciano Pereira def. Kevin Cordero via KO (Punch) - Round 1, 2:10 Luciano Pereira showcased his knockout power with a swift and decisive victory over Kevin Cordero. A single, powerful punch sent Cordero to the canvas, ending the fight early in the first round and delivering on Pereira's promise of an explosive, fan-friendly style.

• Gino van Steenis def. Mark Ewen via KO (Punch) - Round 1, 2:43 It was a perfect night for the van Steenis family. Before his brother's main event triumph, Gino van Steenis scored a spectacular knockout of his own, felling Mark Ewen with a "nasty counter punch" in the first round. The victory electrified the home crowd and set the stage for the family's main event celebration.

4. The Grinders: Fights That Went the Distance

While knockouts and submissions often steal the headlines, several bouts on the PFL Madrid card went to the judges' scorecards, showcasing the heart and determination of the athletes involved.

• Ignacio Campos def. Mathys Duragrin via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) In a closely contested featherweight bout, Spain's own Ignacio "Nacho" Campos did enough to earn the nod from all three judges against a tough Mathys Duragrin.

• Claudio Pacella def. David Mora via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-26, 30-27) Claudio Pacella put on a dominant performance in his 165-pound catchweight fight against David Mora, controlling the action from start to finish to win a clear-cut decision on the scorecards.

• Mattia Giordano def. Ernesto Schisano via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) In an all-Italian affair, Mattia Giordano edged out Ernesto Schisano in a competitive three-round battle, securing the victory on the scorecards.

• Borja Garcia def. Rafael Calderon via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) The flyweight bout between Borja Garcia and Rafael Calderon was a back-and-forth contest, with Garcia ultimately earning the unanimous decision victory after three hard-fought rounds.

5. PFL Madrid: Official Results

Weight Class	Winner	Loser	Method	Round	Time
Middleweight	Costello van Steenis (c)	Fabian Edwards	KO (Elbows)	3	1:48
Featherweight	A.J. McKee	Ádám Borics	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Heavyweight	Linton Vassell	Jose Augusto	TKO (Punches)	2	2:48
Welterweight	Franco Tenaglia	Yassin Najid	TKO (Doctor Stoppage)	2	5:00
Women's Flyweight	Jacinta Austin	Benita van Rooij	TKO (Punches)	1	2:40
Bantamweight	Luciano Pereira	Kevin Cordero	KO (Punch)	1	2:10
Featherweight	Gino van Steenis	Mark Ewen	KO (Punch)	1	2:43
Featherweight	Ignacio Campos	Mathys Duragrin	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Catchweight (165 lbs)	Claudio Pacella	David Mora	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Flyweight	Borja García	Rafael Calderon	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00
Bantamweight	Mattia Giordano	Ernesto Schisano	Decision (Unanimous)	3	5:00