Bellator middleweight champion Johnny Eblen was lower than two weeks away from a title protection in opposition to Fabian Edwards when he received phrase that his struggle was being moved.
Simply 11 days earlier than the Bellator London card happened, Eblen’s struggle with Edwards was all of the sudden faraway from the occasion and ultimately rescheduled for the PFL pay-per-view present on Oct. 19 in Saudi Arabia. No clarification was given and even Eblen admits he was by no means advised why the change was made.
“They simply moved the struggle,” Eblen advised MMA Combating. “Unsure precisely what occurred. I used to be ready to struggle in London and I used to be really fairly excited for it. However you recognize they moved it, I’m an organization man so I did what they needed me to do. They took care of me although, so there’s no concern and now I’m able to go struggle in Saudi Arabia.”
Relating to PFL taking good care of him, Eblen didn’t disclose if that meant a payout for the disruption to his coaching camp however no matter occurred, he was glad sufficient to roll with the punches.
Whereas he was centered on peaking for the occasion on Sept. 14, Eblen finally shut down his coaching to relaxation his physique after which decide again up once more to arrange for Oct. 19 as an alternative.
“It modified rather a lot,” Eblen stated about his coaching camp. “Like I stated, they took care of me. I’m not having any points with it. I took a few weeks off, did some gentle coaching after which I’m going to peak once more [Oct. 19] and I go away in two and a half [weeks].
“I’m in form. Simply took a while off sparring, received again into sparring this week. Simply going to do a small little camp earlier than I am going again out.”
The change additionally affected plans that Eblen had with family and friends touring to see him struggle.
He revealed that a big group of supporters have been set to attend the Bellator London card however that’s now not the case along with his title protection now happening in Saudi Arabia.
That inconvenience might have really served as an even bigger annoyance than the interruption to his coaching camp however Eblen is aware of the gang, his family and friends in attendance or the quantity of journey concerned going to the occasion don’t matter as a lot as going out and profitable when it really comes time to struggle.
“I’ve already been to Saudi Arabia,” Eblen defined. “There’s simply not as a lot to do afterwards. Much less individuals are prone to go simply because it’s a lot additional. London, I had an enormous group going. It will have been enjoyable to hang around with them after. Saudi’s somewhat bit totally different story. Much less individuals are going to indicate as much as that one however it’s what it’s. No massive deal.
“I’ve been to Saudi earlier than, I actually take pleasure in it. They’ve nice hospitality. I appreciated combating there final time. I don’t care [if I’m not the main event]. I receives a commission the identical. No massive deal to me.”
Relating to his opposition, Eblen is definitely going through Edwards in a rematch after they only fought again in September 2023. On that night time, Eblen scored a 3rd spherical knockout with each fighters selecting up a single win since that encounter.
A second struggle coming collectively so rapidly most likely appears odd however Eblen wasn’t completely shocked when Edwards was offered as his subsequent opponent.
“I imply there’s no person else actually,” Eblen stated. “It’s sort of the issue of Bellator in the intervening time and even PFL, they don’t actually recruit middleweights as a result of they don’t have a middleweight division. It’s what it’s.”
So far as operating it again with somebody he simply knocked out a yr in the past, Eblen doesn’t have a look at the rematch as a possible stumbling block simply because he already has a win over Edwards.
As a substitute, Eblen prefers to maintain the give attention to himself and the particular person standing throughout from him when the struggle begins doesn’t actually matter a lot ultimately.
“I already beat him,” Eblen stated. “I don’t actually take into consideration that. I simply take into consideration getting higher. I’m probably not nervous concerning the folks I struggle.
“They’re simply going to place anyone in entrance of me and that’s the person who I’ve received to struggle, no matter who it’s, whether or not it’s an individual I’ve already fought or anyone I’ve by no means fought. I simply do my job. So long as the test clears, I’m good.”
