Costello van Steenis expects Spain to become annual stop for PFL
· Yahoo Sports
Look out, Spain. The PFL could be a permanent fixture of the country's MMA scene.
Visit fish-roadgame.com for more information.
At least that's what middleweight champion Costello van Steenis sees coming.
PFL hosts its first event in Spain on Friday with PFL Madrid, which is headlined by van Steenis' first title defense in a rematch against Fabian Edwards. PFL Madrid (ESPN+) takes place at Palacio Vistalegre.
Spain has experienced a quick growth in MMA over the last few years, with many local promotions such as WOW, WAR and AFL having a big imprint. This largely has been made possible by the success of former UFC featherweight champion and current lightweight titleholder Ilia Topuria, who skyrocketed in popularity and brought MMA into the country's mainstream culture.
Now with PFL debuting in a country with a growing fan base, van Steenis expects PFL Madrid to be one of many events held in his country.
"I think 100 percent," van Steenis told Hablemos MMA in Spanish when asked if Spain could become an annual visit for PFL. "I'm thankful I was able to open the doors, and now PFL will see how the fans are here in Spain and in Madrid. Maybe next time, the event could be in Marbella or Alicante, Valencia. This one is in Madrid, the capital of Spain, and we're going to leave them impressed. There are 11 fighters representing Spain. They're all warriors, and I think we will have to return to Spain, maybe at the end of the year or next, with or without me."
Van Steenis, who has dual nationality being Dutch and Spanish, is proud to be defending his belt on home soil and to bring a major promotion to the country.
"At first I couldn't believe it," van Steenis said. "I was pushing as much as possible for PFL to have an event in Spain. I know that Topuria is the biggest in Spain in terms of MMA, but I wanted to contribute. I wanted to add to Spanish MMA and make history, to add my mark, and that was taking the PFL to Spain. Man, this is another level. I'm very focused, and I can't wait to experience all of fight week."
Many MMA fans have wondered when a major MMA promotion would take an event to Spain. Many expected UFC to be the first given that it has the biggest Spanish MMA star on its roster, along with UFC CEO Dana White's public interest in making an event there.
Van Steenis believes it took a bit due to how unexpected and quick MMA's growth in the country surprised promotions.
"I think it's taken a bit because the sport has grown here very quickly," van Steenis said. "In the last three or four years, it's exploded here in Spain. Of course, the country needs to develop, and it has quickly. All our organizations – WOW, WAR, and AFL – they're all growing quickly. The country just hasn't had the chance to have another organization of another country like the ones in the United States, but now one of the biggest organizations is here, PFL."
This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Costello van Steenis expects Spain to become annual stop for PFL