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Three years after Leon Edwards etched his name into UFC history with a stunning head kick knockout of Kamaru Usman, his younger brother Fabian Edwards has delivered a near carbon-copy moment on the global stage.
On August 22, 2025, inside the Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, Florida, Fabian captured the Professional Fighters League (PFL) Middleweight World Tournament championship with a third-round head kick finish over American contender Dalton Rosta.
The victory secured him the tournament strap and a $500,000 prize purse.
The bout was fueled by animosity, with tensions running high in the lead-up. Edwards accused Rosta of benefiting from favoritism in the semifinals due to his relationship with PFL star Dakota Ditcheva, who watched cageside as the two settled their feud.
After a tentative opening round that was briefly halted due to a low blow, Rosta imposed his wrestling and pressure, securing takedowns and finding success in the early exchanges. Edwards, however, weathered the storm.
By the third round, the Birmingham native shifted gears, leaning on his striking to swing momentum his way.
Midway through the frame, Edwards uncorked a perfectly timed left high kick—eerily reminiscent of his brother Leon’s iconic finish—that sent Rosta crashing to the canvas.
The emphatic knockout not only sealed his place in PFL history but also extended the Edwards family’s legacy of highlight-reel head kicks on the sport’s biggest stages.
In the aftermath, PFL confirmed that Edwards will face reigning middleweight champion Costello van Steenis in a unification bout.
Steenis won their last encounter via split decision.
The matchup will serve as a high-stakes rematch, with Edwards eager to avenge their previous encounter and van Steenis (17-3) determined to reaffirm his status after dethroning Johny Eblen at PFL Champions Series 2 in Cape Town, South Africa, on July 19, 2025.
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