Ilian Bouafia makes his PFL debut against Fabian Edwards at PFL Lyon on December 19
Ilian Bouafia, 8-1, gets a steep first assignment in the PFL: Fabian Edwards, 16-5, winner of the 2025 PFL middleweight tournament, at PFL Lyon on December 19 at the LDLC Arena. The Hexagone MMA regular arrives off a first-round loss to a leg injury in April. It is one of the last fights the league will stage under the PFL name.
Full event coverage: Lapilus vs McKee in Lyon: the first PFL bantamweight title, on the PFL’s last night
Key takeaways
- Ilian Bouafia (8-1) faces Fabian Edwards (16-5) at middleweight at PFL Lyon on December 19 at the LDLC Arena, in his PFL debut.
- Edwards, brother of former UFC champion Leon Edwards, won the PFL middleweight tournament in 2025 by beating Dalton Rosa.
- Bouafia's last fight, at Hexagone MMA 43 in April, ended with a leg injury after 64 seconds against Matthieu Letho Duclos.
Ilian Bouafia: from Hexagone to the PFL
A French circuit record
Bouafia, 29, has built his 8-1 record largely on the French scene. He won at ARES 29 in February 2025, then by unanimous decision over Neemias Santana on the Contender Series in August 2025, and submitted Leon Krajacic with a rear-naked choke in 83 seconds at Hexagone MMA 39 in February.
The only loss
His one defeat came at Hexagone MMA 43 on April 11: a TKO due to a leg injury after 1:04 of round 1 against Matthieu Letho Duclos. It was a stoppage by injury rather than by damage, and the first question in December is whether the leg is fully behind him.
A debut without a warm-up
Most promotions ease a newcomer in. The PFL has done the opposite and given Bouafia the tournament winner of the division straight away.
Fabian Edwards, a tournament winner as a first test
The 2025 tournament
Edwards, 16-5, won the PFL middleweight tournament in August 2025 by beating Dalton Rosa. He came over from Bellator and has lost only to the very top of the division, including Johnny Eblen and Costello van Steenis.
The Edwards name
He is the younger brother of former UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, and he arrived in the PFL through Bellator, which the league bought.
What each man risks
For Edwards, a loss to a debutant would cost him his place near the top of the division. For Bouafia, even a close defeat against a tournament winner would say more about his level than another win on the regional circuit.
I'm just the sharper fighter.
PFL Lyon, the last night under the PFL name
The rest of the card
Taylor Lapilus meets unbeaten Mitch McKee for the first PFL bantamweight title in the main event, and Belgian Boris Atangana, 9-0 with every win by finish, faces Bryan Battle in the co-main event.
A date with meaning
From January 2027 the league operates under the Most Valuable Promotions banner, so PFL Lyon is one of the last events under the PFL name. The show starts at 5 p.m. local time at the LDLC Arena.
Follow the card with real numbers
Records, finish rates and our ratings for Edwards and the rest of the PFL roster are kept up to date in the FightHub app. Download it to follow Bouafia’s debut through to December 19.
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