Johnny Eblen likes his possibilities in a combined martial arts (MMA) model of March Insanity.
The Middleweight division has been consistently evolving over the previous yr. It’s been a rotating door of champions in Final Preventing Championship (UFC) since Israel Adesanya fell to Alex Pereira in late 2022 (watch highlights). Adesanya reclaimed the title just a few months later (watch highlights) earlier than he dropped it to Sean Strickland, who misplaced it to Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 297 in January 2024 (watch highlights).
Nonetheless, it’s been steady exterior of UFC in promotions like Bellator and Skilled Fighters League (PFL), which has the undefeated 15-0 Eblen because the titleholder. On the earth of basketball, the annual custom of the March Insanity match is underway in Nationwide Collegiate Athletics Affiliation (NCAA). Introduced with the thought of an MMA model from ESPN, Eblen revealed how he thinks it might play out.
“That may be sick, signal me up!” Eblen responded. “I blow by means of ‘Izzy’ within the elite eight. I beat [Robert] Whittaker in a FOTN (Struggle of the Night time) banger in the course of the closing 4. It’s me and my homie Sean within the closing. That may be epic!”
Eblen lately made his PFL debut when he battled the 2023 Gentle Heavyweight season champion, Impa Kasanganay, at PFL vs. Bellator final month (Feb. 24, 2024). “The Human Cheat Code” needed to overcome some adversity in spherical two when cracked with massive punches from the previous UFC Welterweight hopeful. Finally, Eblen rallied to get the job accomplished through a cut up resolution win.
Sadly for Eblen, he’ll miss out on PFL’s seasonal format in 2024, because the promotion doesn’t do a match for the Middleweight division. After Fabian Edwards’ unanimous resolution over Aaron Jeffery at Bellator Belfast this previous weekend (March 22, 2024), we are able to seemingly count on a title struggle rematch between the Brit and Eblen. The champion efficiently defended his title in opposition to Edwards through a 3rd spherical knockout at Bellator 299 in September 2023 (watch highlights).
