Fabian Edwards recently experienced a whirlwind of emotions when he was initially told he was out of the upcoming PFL middleweight tournament. Fortunately, the situation was resolved, and he`s now set to fight Impa Kasanganay this Friday.
The issue stemmed from a visa delay for Edwards, who is from the UK and needed to travel to the United States for the fights. He credits his manager, Ali Abdelaziz, for swiftly resolving the problem. Edwards acknowledged the visa issue as a distraction during his training camp but emphasized that it didn`t stop him from preparing for his fight.
“I got a call on Sunday saying I was out,” Edwards recounted in an interview. “It was a visa issue, or rather, the visa processing time was too long. But Ali stepped in, worked his magic, and got it sorted. I really appreciate him leveraging his connections to make it happen. It’s great to have someone like that in your corner.”
Edwards mentioned the situation was resolved relatively quickly, within a couple of days. However, the uncertainty lingered in the back of his mind throughout his training camp. Despite the potential setback, he remained focused on his training, committed to being ready regardless of the tournament situation.
With limited slots available in the eight-man tournament, Edwards is grateful to have regained his place, particularly with the prospect of competing multiple times in the coming months.
“I’m happy to be back in,” Edwards stated. “Especially after thinking it was taken away from me last week. I’ve always wanted to fight frequently, and this tournament gives me that opportunity.”
While Edwards is looking forward to an active 2025, some other fighters within the PFL are experiencing frustration with inactivity.
Johnny Eblen, the current Bellator middleweight champion and a former opponent of Edwards, has voiced his concerns about extended periods without fights, with no clear indication from the PFL about his next bout.
In February, Eblen posted, “Still waiting on PFL for some fight news. Haven’t heard anything from Donn [Davis] or the PFL team. What’s going on?” Eblen’s last fight was against Edwards in October 2024.
Despite their past rivalry, Edwards expressed empathy for Eblen and other champions like Corey Anderson and Patchy Mix, who have also publicly complained about long periods of inactivity.
“It’s bad, really bad,” Edwards said bluntly. “They need to sort it out. It could easily be me in their position. I’m not thinking selfishly just because I have a fight lined up. This is how we earn a living, it’s what we dedicate our lives to.”
“Seeing these guys sidelined for a year or more is crazy. I hope they can resolve these issues.”
The PFL plans to host several “champion” series events in 2025, with the first expected in early summer. However, with limited spots available, the fighting future for many athletes remains uncertain.
Edwards understands the frustration faced by Eblen and other fighters, especially given the precarious nature of their profession.
“We’re putting our health on the line every time we step into the cage,” Edwards emphasized. “It’s our choice, but we’re still risking our well-being. It’s unfortunate that fighters often bear the brunt of these situations, but it’s the path we’ve chosen.”
Despite their two previous encounters, Edwards holds no animosity towards Eblen. In fact, he hopes Eblen gets back in action soon, paving the way for a potential trilogy fight.
While a third fight is not guaranteed, Edwards is focused on winning the PFL middleweight tournament and hopes Eblen shares the same ambition.
“I hope they get him fighting soon,” Edwards said about Eblen. “I hope they get all those guys fighting soon. This is our livelihood, what we sacrifice everything for. Hopefully, they get everything sorted out.”
“If I get through the tournament, I’ll definitely be aiming for that third fight. I’ll be looking for that.”
