Sean Strickland calls for UFC title fight with PFL's Johnny Eblen

UFC middleweight champion Sean Strickland has his sights on a future opponent who does not yet fight for his promotion.

Strickland told fans on Instagram Stories that American Top Team training partner Johnny Eblen will capture the PFL middleweight title, jump to the UFC, and then face him for the belt. "This guy's a savage. This guy's gonna win the [PFL] belt, go to the UFC, he's gonna get one fight, and then we're gonna fight for the belt," Strickland said, per Sherdog. "I don't know who's gonna f*cking win, but we're gonna f*cking fight."

Eblen faces Kasanganay for interim PFL gold

Eblen holds a 17-1 record and meets Impa Kasanganay on July 18 at PFL Austin for the interim middleweight title. His lone loss came against current PFL champion Costello van Steenis last year, a result Eblen avenged with a stoppage of former UFC fighter Bryan Battle in March.

Strickland trains with Eblen at American Top Team in Coconut Creek, Florida, and has pushed publicly for the promotion to sign him. The PFL interim title fight airs July 18 at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Reported via:

• Sherdog — UFC champ wants to fight PFL ace Johnny Eblen for the title