Costello van Steenis: 'PFL has the best middleweight in the world'

Costello van Steenis' PFL championship reign has been quite impressive. "The Spaniard" won the PFL middleweight title last year by putting to sleep then-undefeated champion Johnny Eblen with a rear-naked choke and has now completed his first title defense by also sleeping Fabian Edwards, but this time with hellish elbows. Van Steenis (18-3) put away Edwards (13-4) in vicious fashion Friday in the main event of PFL Madrid at Palacio Vistalegre in Spain.

With back-to-back stoppage wins in championship fights, van Steenis' confidence is at an all-time high, and he firmly believes he's the best fighter right now at 185 pounds. "PFL has the best middleweight in the world," van Steenis said to the PFL Madrid broadcast team . "Of course, I have some losses.

I'm not undefeated. But if you're undefeated, it doesn't mean that you're the best. You have to show it in style and for now, I've finished my last four fights.

" Van Steenis' vicious KO came after Edwards, who's primarily known as a striker, shot for a double leg and pressed van Steenis against the cage. It was an approach that many didn't expect, including the champ himself. "He went for a takedown, and I was like, 'Oh, sh*t.