Dramatic Finish Secures Victory
Fabian Edwards captured the Professional Fighters League (PFL) middleweight tournament and a $500,000 (£369,000) prize after knocking out Dalton Rosta with a stunning head kick in Hollywood, Florida. Following two competitive rounds, Edwards landed a left high kick that sent Rosta to the mat, prompting the referee to stop the fight.
Echoing Brother Leon’s Famous Knockout
The decisive strike mirrored the technique used by his older brother, Leon Edwards, when he defeated Kamaru Usman in 2022 to win the UFC welterweight title. Leon watched cage-side and celebrated alongside Fabian after the victory.
“That’s incredible. God has a funny way of working,” Fabian said, noting that his win came nearly three years to the day after his brother’s famous knockout. “I told Leon I’d try that move, and it worked perfectly in the fight.”
Part of a Strong Week for UK Fighters
Fabian is the second British fighter to win a PFL tournament in the same week, following Alfie Davis’ triumph in the lightweight division. He also becomes the fourth Briton overall to win a PFL tournament, joining Brendan Loughnane (featherweight, 2022) and Dakota Ditcheva (women’s flyweight, 2024).
Journey to the Final
Edwards approached the final as a championship bout after previous losses to Johnny Eblen for the Bellator middleweight title in 2023 and 2024. He regained momentum this year with wins over Impa Kasanganay and Josh Silveira, setting up the showdown with Rosta.
Edwards started the fight with effective leg kicks, but Rosta closed the first round with takedowns. In the second round, Rosta landed a flurry of punches, but Edwards recovered and battled against the cage before delivering the knockout head kick.
Emotional Celebration and Next Match
After the finish, Edwards was swarmed by teammates and fell to the mat in tears, saying: “I’ve worked so hard.”
Following his tournament win, Edwards will face PFL middleweight champion Costello van Steenis, who recently defeated Eblen. The bout is scheduled for a future date to be announced later this year.
