Lapilus, McKee Set to Make History in Lyon
French MMA will have a chance to make history on December 19.
The inaugural PFL Bantamweight World Championship will headline PFL Lyon at the LDLC Arena, as hometown favorite Taylor “Double Impact” Lapilus puts his six-fight winning streak on the line against undefeated American Mitch “Merciless” McKee.
Lapilus (25-4) has been nearly untouchable since arriving in the PFL. The former UFC fighter went 6-2 inside the Octagon and has continued his rise with dominant performances against elite competition, including former Cage Warriors champions, PFL MENA champions and a spectacular knockout of Team Khabib’s Kasum Kasumov.
Now ranked No. 3, Lapilus has one final obstacle between himself and championship gold.
Standing across from him will be No. 1-ranked McKee (11-0), a Minnesota wrestling standout who has carried an unbeaten record into the PFL. Training at Kill Cliff FC under MMA legend Robbie Lawler, McKee brings an elite wrestling pedigree and increasingly dangerous striking game. Six of his 11 victories have come by KO or TKO, and he immediately announced himself as a contender by dominating Sergio Pettis in his PFL debut.
For Lapilus, this is about more than winning a belt.
A victory in front of his home crowd would make him the first French undisputed world champion in MMA and potentially place him at the center of a new chapter for French combat sports.
McKee, however, has no intention of playing the role of hometown villain.
The undefeated challenger plans to walk into the LDLC Arena and take the championship back to America.
It is an intriguing clash of styles: Lapilus’ technical and physical striking against McKee’s championship-caliber wrestling and evolving stand-up game.
And the stakes extend beyond the championship.
PFL Lyon will be the final event under the PFL banner before the organization begins a new chapter as Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) on January 1, 2027, following the merger between PFL and MVP.
Before that new era begins, one fighter will leave Lyon as the first PFL bantamweight world champion.
For Lapilus, the mission is simple: defend home soil and make history.
For McKee, it is an opportunity to silence an entire arena and prove that 11-0 is only the beginning.
On December 19, the lion’s den awaits.
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