In a night that will be etched in the annals of mixed martial arts history, Costello ‘The Spaniard’ van Steenis successfully defended his PFL Middleweight World Title in front of a jubilant home crowd. The event, held at the iconic Palacio Vistalegre in Madrid on March 20, 2026, marked Spain’s inaugural major MMA spectacle, and van Steenis did not disappoint.
Van Steenis, with an impressive record of 18-3, faced off against Fabian Edwards in a grueling contest that saw both fighters exchange heavy blows. The tide turned in the third round when Edwards attempted a takedown, leaving himself vulnerable against the fence. Seizing the opportunity, van Steenis unleashed a barrage of elbows that rendered Edwards unconscious, securing his victory and retaining his title.
The co-main event featured a featherweight showdown between AJ ‘Mercenary’ McKee and Ádám ‘The Kid’ Borics. McKee, with a record of 24-2, demonstrated his elite status in the 145 lbs division with a dominant performance. His well-rounded skills were on full display as he outclassed Borics, earning a unanimous decision win and positioning himself as a strong contender for the featherweight gold.
Other notable performances of the night included Franco ‘El Rey de la Calle’ Tenaglia’s victory over Yassin ‘The Scientist’ Najid. The fight was halted at the end of the second round due to a doctor’s stoppage, with Tenaglia emerging victorious in his PFL debut. The Argentine fighter, a former BKFC Champion, was a crowd favorite and showcased a promising future in the PFL.
Jacinta ‘The Juggernaut’ Austin made a significant impact in the strawweight division with a stunning first-round knockout of Benita van Rooij. Austin’s powerful right hand followed by relentless ground-and-pound left the crowd in awe. In the heavyweight category, Linton ‘The Big Swarm’ Vassell proved that age is just a number with a TKO victory over Jose ‘Gugu’ Augusto. At 42, Vassell’s performance was a testament to his enduring skill and strength.
The full results of PFL Madrid are as follows:
- PFL Middleweight World Title Main Event: Costello van Steenis def. Fabian Edwards by KO (elbows), Round 3, 1:48
- Featherweight Co-Main Event: AJ McKee def. Adam Borics by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
- Welterweight Bout: Franco Tenaglia def. Yassin Najid by TKO (doctor stoppage), Round 2, 5:00
- Women’s Strawweight Bout: Jacinta Austin def. Benita Van Rooij by KO, Round 1, 2:40
- Heavyweight Bout: Linton Vassell def. Jose Augusto by TKO (punches), Round 2, 2:48
The preliminary card also saw impressive victories by Luciano Pereira, Borja Garcia, Gino van Steenis, Mattia Giordano, Claudio Pacella, and Ignacio Campos, setting the stage for an unforgettable night of MMA action in Madrid.
Team_TBE Boxing
🛒 Premium Recommendations
Apple 2024 MacBook Pro Laptop with M4 Max, 16‑core CPU, 40‑core GPU: Built for Apple Intelligence, 16.2-inch Liquid Retina XDR Display, 48GB Unified Memory, 1TB SSD Storage; Space Black Visit the Apple Store
Marantz MM8077 Power Amplifier – 7-Channel Power Amplifier for Ultimate Home Theater & Audio System | Uncompromising High Power Capability, Quality and Design | Active and Passive Cooling
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability subject to change.