The Professional Fighters League is gradually putting together an intriguing European card for December, with PFL Lyon now featuring two matchups that offer plenty of storyline and competitive intrigue.
The event is scheduled for December 19 at LDLC Arena in Lyon, France, with French standout Taylor Lapilus facing undefeated American Mitch McKee for the inaugural PFL Bantamweight World Championship. The promotion has also added a fascinating middleweight matchup between unbeaten Belgian prospect Boris Mbarga Atangana and former UFC fighter Bryan Battle.
With more fights expected to be announced, the early lineup already has the ingredients of a strong European event.
Taylor Lapilus Has a Chance to Make French MMA History
The biggest attraction is undoubtedly Taylor Lapilus. The 34 year old Frenchman enters the main event with a 25 and 4 professional record and a six fight winning streak. After leaving the UFC, Lapilus joined the PFL in 2025 and has continued to establish himself as one of the most accomplished European bantamweights on the roster.
His recent run has been particularly impressive. Lapilus defeated Ali Taleb and Liam Gittins by unanimous decision before producing a statement performance against Kasum Kasumov in Dubai. He followed that with another decision victory over Jake Hadley in Brussels in May. That consistency has earned him a shot at the newly introduced PFL bantamweight championship.
More importantly, Lapilus will fight for the belt in his home country. A victory would make him one of the first French fighters to become an undisputed world MMA champion, giving the contest significance well beyond the PFL title itself. Lapilus has already described the opportunity as a moment that could change the course of French MMA.
Mitch McKee Is the Biggest Test Yet
Standing across from Lapilus will be Mitch McKee, and the American arrives with an unbeaten record. McKee is 11 and 0, with six victories by knockout or technical knockout. He made his PFL debut earlier this year against former Bellator bantamweight champion Sergio Pettis and earned a unanimous decision victory. That performance immediately moved him into championship contention. McKee’s wrestling background makes him particularly interesting stylistically.
He was a three time Minnesota state champion and became a two time All American at the University of Minnesota. He now trains at Kill Cliff FC under former UFC champion Robbie Lawler. The matchup therefore gives Lapilus a difficult puzzle.
The Frenchman is an experienced and technically polished southpaw with a strong submission game, while McKee brings elite wrestling, physicality and increasingly dangerous striking.
If McKee can consistently force Lapilus into wrestling exchanges, he could take away some of the Frenchman’s preferred striking range. If Lapilus can maintain distance and dictate where the fight takes place, his experience could become a major advantage.
Boris Atangana Brings Another Unbeaten Record
The second announced fight adds another undefeated fighter to the card. Boris Mbarga Atangana will face Bryan Battle in a middleweight contest.
The Belgian has built a perfect 9 and 0 record, and perhaps more impressively, every single victory has come inside the distance. Atangana has seven knockout victories and two submissions. He is also 4 and 0 in PFL competition.
His latest performance showed exactly why the PFL is high on him. Atangana stopped UFC veteran Jared Gooden in just 65 seconds at PFL Brussels, continuing a run that includes three first round finishes during his PFL career. Now he faces a completely different level of experience.
Bryan Battle Returns to France
Bryan Battle enters the matchup with a 13 and 3 record and one no contest and brings considerable UFC experience into the cage. Battle won Season 29 of The Ultimate Fighter and went 7 and 1 with one no contest during his UFC run. He is also familiar with fighting in France after stopping French fighter Kevin Jousset at UFC Paris in September 2024.
That victory became particularly memorable because of Battle’s post fight comments toward the French crowd. His return to France against Atangana therefore adds an extra layer to an already compelling matchup.
Atangana will be trying to protect his perfect record and continue his rise, while Battle will be looking to use his experience against one of Europe’s most dangerous emerging middleweights. It is a classic experience versus momentum fight.
Lyon Is Becoming an Important PFL Destination
This is not the first time PFL has invested heavily in Lyon. The promotion held a major event at LDLC Arena in December 2025, and Lapilus was part of that card when he defeated Liam Gittins. The venue is now preparing to host another significant night of MMA.
The choice of Lyon also makes sense strategically. France has developed into one of Europe’s strongest MMA markets following the sport’s legalization in the country. The UFC has already demonstrated the strength of the French audience with its Paris events, and PFL is clearly looking to establish its own position in the market. Putting a French fighter in a world title main event is an obvious way to do that.
The Final PFL Event Before the MVP Era
PFL Lyon carries another major storyline that has nothing to do with the fights themselves. The event is scheduled to be the final event under the PFL banner before the promotion moves into its next chapter under the Most Valuable Promotions name on January 1, 2027, following the merger between PFL and MVP.
That makes the Lapilus versus McKee fight particularly significant. The winner will not only become the first PFL bantamweight champion but will also enter the history books as the final PFL era comes to an end.
For Lapilus, it is an opportunity to win gold in front of his countrymen. For McKee, it is the chance to remain unbeaten and become the first name attached to the PFL bantamweight championship.
And for Atangana and Battle, the Lyon matchup could determine who emerges as a serious middleweight contender heading into the promotion’s next era.
PFL Lyon Fight Card So Far
PFL Bantamweight World Championship
Taylor Lapilus vs. Mitch McKee
Middleweight
Boris Mbarga Atangana vs. Bryan Battle
The event is scheduled for December 19, 2026, at LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. The PFL has confirmed the two matchups above, with additional bouts expected to be added as the event approaches.
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