Costello van Steenis laughs heartily when requested what it was prefer to be taught combined martial arts round Benidorm.
“Why do you think my English is so good?” he jokes.
“There’s a lot of English people there, they make a big show of it and they’re the number one drinkers that’s for sure – but they’re really funny.”
Advertisement
Benidorm is a metropolis on the Mediterranean coast well-known for its British holiday-goers, with round 830,000 visiting in 2024.
Van Steenis was born in the Netherlands however moved to Altea, a city about 20 minutes drive away from Benidorm, as a teenager.
It was there he fell in love with MMA by watching fighters reminiscent of American pair Rashad Evans and Jon Jones, earlier than coaching and competing in a lot of native newbie fights round Benidorm the place he would compete as much as thrice per night time.
While Van Steenis was profitable most of those fights, aged 20, town’s occasion scene provided a distraction to his future ambitions in the game.
Advertisement
After a dialogue together with his father about desirous to take MMA extra significantly, he determined the one approach to additional his profession can be to maneuver again to the Netherlands.
“That’s one of the reasons I moved away. Spain has beautiful weather, beautiful people, a lot of distractions and a lot of partying,” says Van Steenis.
“You want to have your focus and the people around you [in Benidorm] don’t have their focus, but that’s what you need.
“It’s loopy, you are able to do every part there, however that is additionally why I moved away – it was too good.”
Van Steenis describes Benidorm as “lovely and looks like residence”, and while he says he wants to move back one day, his career is the priority right now.
Advertisement
On Friday, the 33-year-old will headline the biggest MMA event to ever take place in Spain at PFL Madrid when he defends his middleweight title against Britain’s Fabian Edwards.
The 32-year-old Edwards is looking to become champion of his division at the third attempt following defeats by Johnny Eblen in 2023 and 2024 for the Bellator title.
‘He’s grown but I’ve grown levels above’
With the UFC and other major MMA promotions never holding an event in Spain, the PFL’s event at the Palacio Vistalegre represents a landmark moment.
The delay largely comes down to the country not having any MMA world champions to rally behind, but that changed in 2024 when Ilia Topuria won the UFC featherweight title.
Advertisement
UFC president Dana White wanted to capitalise on Topuria’s reign by hosting an event in Spain, but the PFL acted first following Van Steenis’ success over American Eblen last year for the PFL middleweight belt.
It’s a “dream come true” for Van Steenis to be defending his belt in Spain and can already feel the buzz from the capital.
He adds there are more than 6,000 posters in Madrid promoting the Edwards fight, while he’s had to turn down multiple interview requests from Spanish media so he “can concentrate on coaching”.
“I do not know what’s greater – profitable the title or going to Madrid,” says Van Steenis.
Advertisement
“There’s going to be about 10 Spanish individuals combating on the PFL card, one of many greatest MMA platforms in the world. In their residence nation. This opens the gate for MMA in Spain.”
One of the 10 Spanish fighters in action is Van Steenis’ younger brother Gino, with the pair competing on the same card for the first time.
“My dad stated if my grandad was nonetheless alive he can be so pleased with you guys,” adds Van Steenis.
“We’re residing the dream now, however not simply me and my brother, it is my entire household. We’re all sharing the identical dream, work and sacrifices.”
Advertisement
He and Birmingham-based Edwards – brother of former UFC welterweight champion Leon – fought before in 2020 with the Dutch-Spaniard winning on a split decision.
Since then Van Steenis has won five of his six fights, while Edwards has triumphed in seven of 10.
Edwards knocked out Dalton Rosta in August to win the PFL’s 2025 middleweight tournament and earn a title shot.
“We’re rather a lot higher now than we had been six years in the past, we had been each two children in comparison with now,” adds Van Steenis.
“He’s grown however I’ve grown ranges above and I’m going to show that on 20 March.
“Of course he’s good, I know his reach is long and he’s fast, but I’ve been training for Fabian since November.”
Advertisement