PFL has announced Taylor Lapilus (25-4) will face undefeated prospect Mitch McKee (11-0) for the inaugural 135-pound championship on December 19 in Lyon, France. The bout will headline the final PFL card before the promotion merges with Most Valuable Promotions in 2027. Lapilus has won four straight under the PFL banner, while McKee earned his title shot by defeating former Bellator champion Sergio Pettis via decision in April.
PFL has officially announced a bantamweight title fight between Taylor Lapilus and Mitch McKee, set for December 19 in Lyon, France. The two will compete for the inaugural PFL 135-pound championship in what will serve as the main event of the promotion's final card before its planned merger with Most Valuable Promotions in 2027.
Lapilus, known as "Double Impact," enters the fight as the home-country hero, competing in front of a French crowd in Lyon. The 33-year-old carries a 25-4 record and has put together four consecutive victories under the PFL banner, establishing himself as the natural frontrunner for a belt in a division that is crowning its first-ever champion. He stands five-foot-six with a 73-inch reach and brings a 50 percent striking accuracy to the cage.
McKee arrives with a perfect 11-0 record and an increasingly impressive resume. The undefeated prospect punched his ticket to this title fight by defeating former Bellator champion Sergio Pettis via decision back in April, a result that announced him as a serious contender at 135 pounds.
Why it matters
- The fight crowns the first-ever PFL bantamweight champion, giving the title immediate historical significance.
- Lapilus carries four-fight momentum and home-crowd advantage in Lyon, France.
- McKee's unblemished record and win over a former Bellator champion raise the stakes considerably for a fighter looking to remain undefeated entering the biggest fight of his career.
- The outcome will carry added weight as one of the last defining moments before the PFL-MVP merger reshapes the promotional landscape heading into 2027.
