PFL Lyon will take place at Lyon-Decines on Saturday, December 13, with two PFL world champions set to be crowned at the top of the fight card.
In the main event, former Bellator light heavyweight champion Vadim Nemkov and former PFL season champion Renan Ferreira will go head-to-head for the PFL heavyweight world title, while in the co-main event, women’s MMA icon Cris Cyborg will take on Australian contender Sara Collins for the PFL women’s featherweight world title.
Nemkov hasn’t lost since a split-decision defeat to Karl Albrektsson in the inaugural RIZIN FF event back in April 2016. He captured the Bellator light heavyweight title with a second-round knockout of Ryan Bader in August 2020 and went on to defend his title four times, defeating Phil Davis, Julius Anglickas, Corey Anderson and Yoel Romero.
He then merged into the PFL roster when the promotion purchased Bellator, and moved up to the heavyweight division. He submitted former heavyweight season champion Bruno Cappelozza at the PFL vs Bellator event in February 2024, then followed up with a first-round submission finish of Tim Johnson at the PFL Champions Series event in January of this year.
How he’s set to take on Brazil’s Ferreira, who returns to action after his first-round TKO loss to Francis Ngannou at the PFL Super Fights event last October. Prior to that loss, “Problema” had reeled off four straight TKO victories, stopping Matheus Scheffel, Maurice Greene, Denis Goltsov and Ryan Bader. The first three wins on that list saw Ferreira become the 2023 PFL heavyweight champion, while his victory over Bader saw him topple the then-Bellator heavyweight champ at the PFL vs Bellator show.
Now, with that defeat to Ngannou in his rearview mirror, Ferreira will look to impose his height and reach to devastating effect against one off the most well-rounded fighters in the higher weight classes in any promotion.
In the co-main event, Cyborg returns to action with her thirst for competition as strong as ever. The 40-year-old hasn’t competed in MMA since October last year, where she outpointed PFL season champ arissa Pacheco for the PFL Super Fights title. Prior to that victory, Cyborg had racked up five straight defences of the Bellator women’s featherweight title, defeating the likes of Arlene Blencowe (twice), Leslie Smith, Sinead Kavanagh and Cat Zingano along the way.
More recently, Cyborg has been scratching her competitive itch in the boxing ring, where she’s claimed seven successive wins competing under the Queensberry Rules.
But on December 13 Cyborg returns to MMA once again in a bid to capture yet another world championship as she takes on gritty Australian contender Sara Collins, who sprung a huge upset when she defeated Leah McCourt at the Bellator Champions Series event in London back in September 2014. Prior to that attention-grabbing victory, Collins defeated Bellator vets Sinead Kavanagh and Pam Sorenson.
The 35-year-old from Victoria, Australia has a huge experience disadvantage, with her six career bouts dwarfed by Cyborg’s extensive 30-fight MMA career. But Collins has yet to taste defeat, and will be looking to claim the biggest win of her career to date, and capture PFL championship gold in the process.
The two championship bouts will top a fight card that also features the finale of the 2025 PFL Europe season.
“French MMA fans have been tremendous supporters of the PFL, and we are proud to deliver a card worthy of their passion and loyalty,” said PFL CEO Martin.
“On December 13 at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, fans will experience some of the biggest names and most exciting matchups in the sport, a true showcase of world champions, rising stars, and hometown heroes.”
