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PFL PITTSBURGH TO BE HEADLINED BY JOHNNY EBLEN VERSUS BRYAN BATTLE ON MARCH 28

January 13, 2026 | PFL Press

PFL makes its first stop in the US in 2026 at the UPMC Events Center for PFL Pittsburgh on March 28

The event is headlined by a middleweight main event, as former World Champion Johnny Eblen squares off against highly anticipated PFL newcomer Bryan Battle

A Middleweight clash takes place in the co-main event as Pittsburgh’s Own Dalton Rosta is set to face former PFL Champion Impa Kasanganay

Ticketmaster Pre-sale Begins Tuesday, January 27 at 10:00 am ET and Tickets go On-sale Thursday, January 29 at 10:00 am ET

PFL Pittsburgh will be Broadcast and Streamed in 170 Countries, available in the U.S. on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes

NEW YORK (January 13, 2026) – The Professional Fighters League (PFL) is making their debut in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania at the UPMC Events Center on Saturday, March 28. In the Main Event, Johnny “Pressure” Eblen (16-1) will face Bryan “The Butcher” Battle (12-2-1 NC).

The Co-Main event will see Pittsburgh’s own Dalton “Hercules” Rosta (11-2) return to action after reaching the Finals of the 2025 PFL World Tournament, and will look to impose his physicality in a tough test in front of the Steel City crowd. He will face Congo’s Impa “Tshilobo” Kasanganay (19-6) in what will be a classic rivalry between two of the best gyms in South Florida, American Top Team and Kill Cliff, where both athletes currently reside.

Pre-sale tickets for the event will be available on Tuesday, January 27 at 10:00 am ET, and general sale tickets will be available on Thursday, January 29 at 10:00 am ET via Ticketmaster. For more information on tickets, visit http://pfl.info/pittsburgh. Additional bouts will be announced shortly.

Eblen will enter the cage in Pittsburgh looking to remind the world why he is one of the best Middleweights in MMA. After a dramatic finish in Cape Town costing him the title, “Pressure” has a renewed focus to come and make a statement, and reassert the dominance that led him to 16 straight wins in his professional MMA career before his last fight. Widely considered as one of the best 185 lb fighters, expect a big performance from the former Bellator champion.

Battle, who signed with the PFL late last year as one of the most sought-after free agents in mixed martial arts, will make his PFL debut on March 28 and immediately face one of the toughest tests of his MMA career. A former winner of The Ultimate Fighter, Battle is known for his all-action style, most recently recording back-to-back first-round finishes in Dirty Boxing Championship after compiling a 10–2 record that included nine fights in the UFC. He now has an opportunity to rapidly elevate his standing in the PFL by taking on one of the best fighters in the division, entering the matchup confident in his ability to defeat Eblen.

“The PFL is excited to make its debut in one of the most passionate and storied sports towns in America when we visit Pittsburgh,” said PFL CEO John Martin. “This city has a deep-rooted sports culture and fans who consistently show up and support their teams at the highest level. Bringing the PFL to Pittsburgh marks a major milestone for us, and it’s especially meaningful as it will be the city’s first MMA show in nearly 10 years. We look forward to delivering an unforgettable night of world-class mixed martial arts and introducing the PFL experience to a fanbase that truly appreciates elite competition.”

The Main Card will be available in the U.S. on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes at 10:00 pm ET/7:00 pm PT. The early card will begin at 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT on the ESPN App for fans with access to the ESPN Unlimited plan.