Mark your calendars, fight fans! The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is set to ignite the UPMC Events Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday, March 28, for its inaugural U.S. event of 2026. The night promises to be electrifying, with a middleweight main event featuring former World Champion Johnny ‘Pressure’ Eblen (16-1) squaring off against the highly-touted PFL newcomer Bryan ‘The Butcher’ Battle (12-2-1 NC).
In the co-main event, Pittsburgh’s own Dalton ‘Hercules’ Rosta (11-2) will make his highly-anticipated return to the cage following his impressive run to the finals of the 2025 PFL World Tournament. Rosta will look to leverage his physical prowess against Congo’s Impa ‘Tshilobo’ Kasanganay (19-6) in a classic gym rivalry between American Top Team and Kill Cliff, where both fighters currently train.
Eblen, known for his relentless pressure and striking ability, will be eager to remind the MMA world of his dominance. After a heartbreaking loss in Cape Town cost him the title, ‘Pressure’ is back with a renewed focus and determination to reclaim his throne. With 16 straight wins under his belt before his last fight, Eblen is widely regarded as one of the best 185 lb fighters in the world.
Battle, on the other hand, signed with the PFL late last year as one of the most sought-after free agents in mixed martial arts. Making his PFL debut on March 28, he faces one of the toughest tests of his career. A former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Battle is known for his all-action style, with back-to-back first-round finishes in Dirty Boxing Championship and a 10-2 record that included nine fights in the UFC. Confident in his abilities, Battle sees this matchup as an opportunity to rapidly elevate his standing in the PFL.
Pre-sale tickets for this highly-anticipated event will be available on Tuesday, January 27 at 10:00 am ET, with general sale tickets going live on Thursday, January 29 at 10:00 am ET via Ticketmaster. The event will be broadcast and streamed in 170 countries, with U.S. viewers able to catch the action on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.
Additional bouts will be announced shortly, so stay tuned for more updates on what promises to be an unforgettable night of mixed martial arts action in the Steel City.
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