Strickland calls out training partner Eblen for future UFC middleweight title fight

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has called out his own training partner, PFL contender Johnny Eblen, for a future title fight — predicting the cross-promotional matchup will happen once Eblen makes his way to the UFC.

Strickland, who occasionally trains alongside Eblen (17-1) at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, laid out his vision on Instagram Stories ahead of Eblen’s interim PFL middleweight title bout against Impa Kasanganay (20-6) at PFL Austin on July 18.

“This guy’s a savage. This guy’s gonna win the [PFL] belt, go to the UFC, he’s gonna get one fight, and then we’re gonna fight for the belt,” Strickland said. “I don’t know who’s gonna fking win, but we’re gonna fking fight.”

Eblen enters the contest having bounced back from the only defeat of his professional career — a shock loss to current PFL middleweight champion Costello van Steenis last year. He returned to winning ways in March with a stoppage victory over former UFC fighter Bryan Battle, and now stands one win away from interim gold.

Strickland has been a vocal advocate for Eblen’s UFC signing for some time, and his latest comments suggest the support goes beyond mere locker-room loyalty. Whether the call-out is a genuine long-term plan or characteristic Strickland bravado is difficult to say — the champion himself acknowledged the outcome is far from certain — but the scenario he describes would require Eblen to first defeat Kasanganay, then earn and win a UFC contract fight before any title shot could materialise.

For now, Eblen’s immediate focus is the interim PFL middleweight title on July 18 in Austin, Texas.