Charlotte fighter Bryan Battle set to headline PFL debut against former champion

Charlotte’s Bryan Battle is ready for journey in the Professional Fight League. On March 28, the mixed martial artist headlines his PFL debut against former Bellator champion Johnny Eblen (16-1) in Pittsburgh. 

It will be the first time Battle’s photo is the largest on the fight poster — a milestone he says he has been working toward his entire career.

For Battle, headlining a card for the first time carries real meaning. He said every competitor secretly chases the moment.

“Whether people admit it or not, you know, if you compete, you know, you see the guys on the poster, you know what I mean? It’s like you wanna be on the poster,” Battle told WCNC’s Live Impact News. “It’s a sign of validation for a lot of hard work.”

The road here wasn’t easy. After parting ways with the UFC, Battle bounced back with two first-round knockout wins under the Dirty Boxing banner — including one over a fighter from the Diaz team. A post-fight speech during that run drew attention for its candor, with Battle addressing fans who might be going through a difficult stretch.

“No matter how, you know, bad things may seem, you know, no matter how down on your luck you may be or how much life seems to be working against you, there’s always light at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “The only way you can lose is if you give up, you know what I’m saying, and that’s just in life.”

Battle described his current training camp as the most focused of his career, crediting personal growth and a more deliberate approach to preparation. He also rejected the idea that competing in the PFL rather than the UFC signals a lesser level of competition.

“I’m approaching it like a UFC fight because that’s how much respect I have for these guys, or even more attention to detail than when I was in the UFC,” he said, “because now there’s an even bigger target on my back because a lot of guys that are just as good skill-wise are gonna be looking to make a name off of me.”

As for his message to Charlotte fans tuning in March 28, Battle kept it simple.

“I’m just gonna go up there and just give him some Southern hospitality in the worst kind of way,” he said. "Snatch some necks, cash some checks, you feel me?"

Bryan Battle vs. Johnny Eblen airs March 28 on ESPN2 and ESPN+ at 10 p.m. Eastern.