A 15-fight MMA veteran, Decky McAleenan finally gets the opportunity to compete on a major stage with the PFL Europe lightweight tournament. A Brazilian jiu-jitsu brown belt, McAleenan has won eight of his nine victories via a finish. He last fought in April 2024, scoring a second-round submission of Ville Mankinen.

 

Gino van Steenis is known for his use of his long range with a flashy offense, his striking coming as a result of his Muay Thai training, with Dutch amateur Muay Thai titles coming in both 2017 and 2018. Van Steenis, the younger brother of Costello van Steenis – the No. 1 contender to the Middleweight title – has won five of his six fights thus far, including three finishes. Gino Van Steenis last fought in June, scoring a decision over Paulo Bananada.

 

Which man will move on in the PFL Europe Lightweight Tournament?

 

 

Round 1

 

Low kick from van Steenis. McAleenan answers back. Each with a low kick again. Van Steenis with a low kick. McAleenan with another. Van Steenis with another. One-two from van Steenis. Another series of leg kicks from van Steenis. Solid one-two from McAleenan. Van Steenis with a combination of his own. Head kick attempt from van Steenis. Three-punch blitzing combination from van Steenis. Right hand from van Steenis, and he presses McAleenan against the fence. Van Steenis with a trip, but McAleenan gets the butterfly hook in, making van Steenis work in half guard. Van Steenis hammers with the right hand as McAleenan loses the butterfly.

 

Van Steenis continues with the heavy pressure. The referee calls for more work. Van Steenis landing a couple of left hands. Another left as he continues to pressure McAleenan. McAleenan trying to use forearms to the neck to create space, but van Steenis is moving his head. Van Steenis potentially looking for an arm triangle. McAleenan keeps trying to lift van Steenis, but van Steenis is moving. Now van Steenis goes into half-guard again. The referee tells the fighters to do something to keep position. Van Steenis moves but McAleenan now has full guard again. A couple of punches from up top from van Steenis. McAleenan searches for an armbar but doesn’t get it. Van Steenis now in side control. Van Steenis gets into a front headlock position but can’t set up the choke before the horn.

 

 

Round 2

 

McAleenan flashing the right hand. Low kick from van Steenis. Right hand from McAleenan. Another right hand from McAleenan before he presses van Steenis into the fence. Van Steenis reverses the position. Knees from Van Steenis to the legs. Van Steenis level changes but can’t get it. He tries again, but McAleenan keeps his balance. McAleenan has an arm around the neck, but van Steenis gets his head around. There’s a brief break but McAleenan presses him again. A small flurry from van Steenis on the break to back up McAleenan. Van Steenis misses a spinning kick. McAleenan follows up with a right hand, and there’s a delayed response but van Steenis crumbles!

 

 

McAleenan gets on top as van Steenis looks to use his legs for a triangle attempt. McAleenan avoids it and tries to work in the guard. McAleenan landing some short strikes. The referee tells van Steenis to fight back. McAleenan stands and has to fight the legs. McAleenan gets to van Steenis’s back, but van Steenis reverses and ends up on top. Van Steenis tries to advance position and ends the round in side control after getting dropped.

 

 

Round 3

 

Three-punch combination and a high kick from McAleenan. Van Steenis with a pair of inside leg kicks. Another inside leg kick from him. Left hand from van Steenis. Low kick from van Steenis. Counter right hand from van Steenis. Van Steenis presses McAleenan into the fence. Knee by van Steenis. Van Steenis level changes, but McAleenan wraps up a guillotine! It’s tough to lock it in completely with the two by the fence. Van Steenis works to free his head and gets on top in half-guard. McAleenan sits up against the fence.

 

The referee warns to use the position. McAleenan is trying to use butterfly hooks to elevate van Steenis, but van Steenis is pressing him into the fence in the sitting position. Van Steenis works into mount. McAleenan gives up his back temporarily but quickly gets back into a half-guard. Van Steenis with small shots from up top. Van Steenis with small shots now in side control. The referee calls for action, and he increases his punching output. McAleenan tries to transition, but van Steenis keeps pressure and fires off more small punches. Van Steenis concludes the fight on top.

 

 

OFFICIAL RESULT

 

Gino Van Steenis defeats Decky McAleenan by unanimous decision (29-28x3) in a lightweight tournament fight, advancing to the semifinals, where he’ll face the winner of Connor Hughes vs. Sebastien Di Franco.

 

Van Steenis moves his career record to 6-1

 

Van Steenis fights out of Altea, Spain

 

Van Steenis is the younger brother of PFL Middleweight Costello Van Steenis, who will be fighting Johnny Eblen for the PFL World Title in Cape Town in July.