Strickland Bets on Eblen UFC Title Shot
Sean Strickland forecasts a PFL-UFC collision course, tipping Johnny Eblen for a title shot.
Sean Strickland has dropped a bombshell prediction: Johnny Eblen will win PFL gold, jump to the UFC, and challenge him for the middleweight title. The former UFC middleweight champion made the call after Eblen’s dominant run in PFL competition, where he defended his title twice in 2024 with finishes inside the first round. Strickland, who lost the UFC belt to Israel Adesanya in 2023, framed the potential showdown as a necessary unification clash to settle the division’s top contender.
Eblen, the reigning PFL middleweight champion, has not fought in the UFC since 2019, when he was submitted by Anthony Smith at UFC Fight Night 146. Since joining PFL in 2021, he has compiled a 7-0 record, including five stoppages, and defended his title against the likes of Rory MacDonald and Denis Tiuliulin. His contract with PFL expires after the 2025 season, with UFC rumors intensifying following the league’s merger with Bellator.
