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Taylor Lapilus vs. Mitch McKee to crown bantamweight champion in last PFL event

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3 weeks ago

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Taylor Lapilus vs. Mitch McKee to crown bantamweight champion in last PFL event

PFL will crown its bantamweight champion on Dec. 19 in Lyon, France, when Taylor Lapilus faces off with Mitch McKee for the inaugural 135-pound belt in the main event of the last PFL card before merging with MVP in 2027, the promotion announced Wednesday.

Lapilus (25-4) won four in a row under the PFL banner after parting ways with the UFC on a two-fight winning streak, topping Jake Hadley in his most recent bout this past May. The 34-year-old French bantamweight was victorious in six of eight bouts over two stints in the UFC.

“My whole career has led to this moment,†Lapilus stated in a release. “I'm here to become champion, leave my mark on this sport, and cement my legacy. And when I look back, I want to know I was part of the moment everything changed for French MMA. This is more than a title fight. This is history in the making.â€

McKee (11-0) is a decorated wrestler and undefeated MMA prospect who earned a shot at the PFL gold after beating former Bellator titleholder Sergio Pettis via decision in April, his first appearance under the company's banner after a successful 8-0 run in LFA.

“Fighting for a PFL world title is exactly why I came here,†McKee said. “Taylor is a great fighter, he's experienced, and I know fighting him in France means I'm walking into his backyard. I wouldn't want it any other way. I've believed from day one that I'm the best bantamweight in the PFL, and in December I get the opportunity to prove it. I'm going to Lyon to bring that belt home.â€

The final four PFL shows before the transition under the MVP name are scheduled for Oct. 16 in Chicago, followed by a pair of November events before the last trip to Lyon.

“Lyon has become one of the great fight cities in the world, and the energy French fans bring for their athletes is palpable,†MVP CEO John Martin stated in a release. “On December 19, fans will have the opportunity to see one of their own fight for a world championship as Taylor Lapilus takes on the biggest test of his career in the undefeated Mitch McKee. … The night will also mark a major milestone for our company as the final event under the PFL banner before we move forward as MVP in 2027. I can't think of a better city or a better stage for it.â€

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MMA

Marcus McGhee says UFC has ‘pushed me back’ since Petr Yan fight

Published

47 minutes ago

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September 30, 2026

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Marcus McGhee says UFC has ‘pushed me back’ since Petr Yan fight
Marcus
McGhee believes the biggest fight of his career halted his
momentum.

McGhee (11-2) went undefeated in his first four
Ultimate Fighting Championship outings before taking a massive
step up in competition against Petr Yan last
year. Yan earned a unanimous decision over McGhee and went on to
win the bantamweight title against Merab
Dvalishvili in his next fight.

“The Maniac†claims the promotion has held him back since that
result, but he doesn't know why.

Marcus McGhee questions his UFC matchmaking ahead of UFC
332

McGhee returned to the win column in June against unranked John
Yannis, who is now 1-2 in the UFC. He is scheduled to return at
UFC
332 on Oct. 3 against Bernardo
Sopai.

McGhee admits that he accepted the matchup against Sopai (13-3) to
stay active. He believes the loss to Yan led to the recent decline
in his level of opposition and that the UFC has been pushing him
back since the defeat.

In an interview ahead of his Octagon return, McGhee pointed to
Payton
Talbott co-headlining UFC 332 and Raoni
Barcelos headlining
UFC Vegas 121 on Saturday while questioning the UFC's
matchmaking process.

“Seems like it hindered me,†McGhee told Full Send MMA. “I wouldn't
even say [ranked opponents] are not ready to fight. I just think
that the UFC decides who they want to fight and who they don't want
to fight. Because me and Payton Talbott are both on this card.
Raoni Barcelos fought last week. There's plenty of guys that are
available, but they make their matchups for whatever reason they
make their matchups… But I do feel like they have been pushing me
back since [the Petr Yan] fight. So, I'm gonna keep doing my job,
keep showing up, keep winning these fights.â€

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MMA

Ex-IBF champion Lee Selby gets unbeaten test in BKB 61 main event

Published

4 hours ago

on

September 30, 2026

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Ex-IBF champion Lee Selby gets unbeaten test in BKB 61 main event
Lee “Lightning†Selby will headline BKB 61 against Ollie “The
Death†Sentance on Nov. 14 at Indigo at The O2 in London.

BKB announced the all-British matchup Tuesday, with the former IBF
featherweight champion set to make his second appearance in the
promotion's Trigon. Selby had previously been confirmed for the
event, but his opponent had not been announced.

Lee Selby faces 2-0 bare-knuckle finisher Ollie Sentance in
London

Selby retired from professional boxing in 2022, bringing an end to
a career in which he captured the IBF featherweight championship.
He made his BKB debut at BKB 55 in June, stopping Antonio Rizzo via
second-round TKO.

The 39-year-old Welshman will now make his first BKB appearance in
London, where he will face another undefeated bare-knuckle fighter
in Sentance.

“I'm really looking forward to getting back in the Trigon and
fighting in London again,†Selby said. “Ollie is a tough opponent
and I know he'll be coming to bring a fight, so I'm expecting a
proper battle. It's always special fighting in front of the British
fans and I'm excited to headline BKB 61 and put on a great night
for everyone at The O2.â€

Sentance enters the matchup with a 2-0 bare-knuckle record, with
both victories coming by stoppage. The Kidderminster,
Worcestershire, native made his BKB debut in February, stopping
Nico Earwaker in the fourth round before adding another TKO victory
over Corey Healey at BKB 55.

The 29-year-old competed in several combat sports, including mixed
martial arts and kickboxing, before moving into bare-knuckle
boxing.

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MMA

Dana White says Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua delay is a ‘total ego thing’ and explains why he won’t be at the press conference

Published

9 hours ago

on

September 29, 2026

By

Dana White says Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua delay is a ‘total ego thing’ and explains why he won’t be at the press conference

Dana White says he is definitely part of Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua.

The last few weeks have been dominated by the public battle between Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, and the UFC CEO over whether or not White will be involved in the Fury vs. Joshua superfight in December. Despite having no direct promotional relationship with either fighter, White and fight financier, Turki Alalshikh, have pushed for White's involvement in the promotion, while Hearn has steadfastly refused to allow it.

As such, for the past few weeks the fight has appeared to be in jeopardy of even happening, but on the eve of their first official press conference, White insists that everything has been settled, and that he is part of the promotion.

“There's no confusion whatsoever,†White told reporters after the latest edition of Contender Series on Tuesday night. “If you look at everything, from the network to the guy that's actually f*cking paying for it, and to me saying what I've said. I've been saying it now feels like for f*cking years, but it's probably been weeks, and I've been saying the same thing. …

“It's happening. It's done,†White continued. “It's a done deal. Everything that I've been saying is the truth. Why would I say it and double down, and triple down, and f*cking quadruple down if it wasn't the case?â€

Of course, White has insisted several times before that things were settled, only for Hearn to deny those claims later. Hearn and White have been embroiled in an increasingly bitter rivalry for most of 2026, since White moved into boxing with Zuffa Boxing and quickly signed one of Hearn's long-time fighters, Conor Benn. Since then, the two have battled through the media, with White at one point even suggesting they fight for real. So, as this rivalry continues, White puts the issues with booking Fury-Joshua down to ego.

“This isn't a hesitation, this is an ego thing,†White said. “Total ego thing. It has nothing to do with any of this shit. And listen, boxing has taken a hit in the United States. It's not as big as it was 20 years ago. It has become a very British sport, and all the shit that you're hearing, the crying, and the bitching, and whatever the f*ck, is coming from the U.K.â€

White also insisted that despite all his fiery language, he's actually in his element, telling reporters he's having fun and that “this is right up my alley.â€

It's still unclear exactly what role White plays in the Fury-Joshua fight, though, and whatever it is, it apparently won't be part of the opening press conference on Wednesday, as White confirmed he will not be in attendance for the London event.

“No, because I was here,†White said when asked if he would be at the press conference. “I would have been there if I didn't have the Contender.â€

Fury and Joshua are expected to fight on Dec. 11 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

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