Costello van Steenis Shares His Experience Learning MMA in Benidorm
Costello van Steenis chuckles when asked about his time training in mixed martial arts near Benidorm. “Do you really think my English is so good?” he jokes, pointing out the presence of many English tourists who bring a lively spirit to the area. “They’re the top drinkers for sure—and they’re really entertaining.”
Benidorm, located along the Mediterranean coast, attracts around 830,000 British holidaymakers in 2024, contributing to its vibrant atmosphere. Originally from the Netherlands, Van Steenis relocated to Altea, just a 20-minute drive from Benidorm, during his childhood, where his passion for MMA blossomed by watching fighters like Rashad Evans and Jon Jones. He began training and participating in local amateur bouts, often competing multiple times in a single night.
Although he was enjoying success in these fights, the city’s party lifestyle was a tempting distraction from his aspirations. After discussing his desire to seriously commit to MMA with his father, he recognized that returning to the Netherlands was necessary for his career progression. “That’s one reason I left,” he explains. “Spain has beautiful weather and people, but there are too many distractions.”
Van Steenis describes Benidorm as “beautiful and feels like home” and expresses hope to return someday. However, for now, he is focused on his career, which reaches a significant milestone as he headlines the largest MMA event in Spain, the PFL Madrid, defending his middleweight title against British fighter Fabian Edwards.
Edwards is aiming to capture his first championship title in his third attempt, after previous losses to Johnny Eblen for the Bellator title. The PFL event in Madrid marks a pivotal development for MMA, as it signifies the first major promotion to hold an event in Spain, spurred on by the rise of local talent, including the recent UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
It’s a “dream come true” for Van Steenis to defend his title in Spain, as he feels the excitement building in the capital with over 6,000 promotional posters and numerous interview requests from Spanish media. He also notes, “There will be about 10 Spanish fighters at this event, which opens the door for MMA in Spain.”
Interestingly, Van Steenis will share the card with his younger brother Gino for the first time. Reflecting on their family’s support, he shares, “If my granddad were alive, he’d be immensely proud of us. We’re all living this dream together.” Van Steenis and Edwards previously faced off in 2020, with the former winning a closely contested split decision. “We’ve both grown significantly since then, and I’ll prove that on March 20,” he asserts, emphasizing his extensive training and preparations for the fight.
