PFL Lyon: Nemkov vs. Ferreira Preview

PFL Lyon: Nemkov vs. Ferreira Preview

Liam Lindsay|
December 11, 2025|
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PFL Lyon takes place this Saturday, December 13, at the LDLC Arena in Lyon, France. The card features two world championship fights headlining a stacked international card. Here's a breakdown of the key matchups.

Main Event: Vadim Nemkov vs. Renan Ferreira (PFL Heavyweight World Championship)

Vadim Nemkov (19-2, 1 NC) puts his heavyweight championship on the line against Brazilian knockout artist Renan Ferreira (13-4).Nemkov, a former Bellator Champion and protégé of Fedor Emelianenko, combines precision striking with dangerous grappling, recording ten knockouts and five submissions. His recent dominance includes a submission of Bruno Cappelozza and a quick finish of Tim Johnson.

Ferreira has a huge size and reach advantage, with eleven of his thirteen wins coming by knockout. The 2024 PFL tournament champion seeks to rebound from his TKO loss to Francis Ngannou last October. This stylistic clash pits Nemkov's well-rounded approach against Ferreira's devastating finishing power.

Co-Main Event: Cris Cyborg vs. Sara Collins (PFL Women's Featherweight World Championship)

Legendary fighter Cris Cyborg (28-2, 1 NC) defends against undefeated Australian Sara Collins (6-0). Cyborg has captured titles in Strikeforce, UFC, Bellator, and Invicta, with 23 stoppage victories built on ferocious striking and relentless pressure. She most recently defeated Larissa Pacheco at PFL's Battle of the Giants in October, before taking multiple fights in Boxing. She makes her MMA return at 40 years old this Saturday.

Collins enters her toughest test yet, having never been past the first round professionally. She earned this opportunity by submitting Leah McCourt in her Bellator debut. The undefeated contender faces a massive experience gap but brings youth and momentum against the 40-year-old icon.

Taylor Lapilus vs. Liam Gittins (Bantamweight)

French veteran Taylor Lapilus (22-4) takes on England's Liam Gittins (13-4, 1 NC) in a Bantamweight matchup.Lapilus brings extensive European experience and home crowd advantage to this featured bout. Gittins, known for his durability and pace, aims to spoil the party and secure a statement win on foreign soil.Patrick Habirora vs. Kevin Jousset (Welterweight)

Patrick Habirora vs. Kevin Jousset (Welterweight)

Undefeated Belgian prospect Patrick Habirora (7-0) faces former UFC French contender Kevin Jousset (10-4) in a Welterweight clash. Habirora's perfect record meets the submission threat of Jousset's judo background. Habirora is a firm favorite, coming off a first-round KO against Danny Roberts. This will be Jousset's first fight in the PFL, following back-to-back losses in the UFC to Bryan Battle and Jonathan Micallef.