The Professional Fighters League has officially added another high-stakes clash to its upcoming year-end schedule, announcing a compelling 205-pound light heavyweight matchup between former Hexagone MMA champion Bafode Gassama and promotional standout Coby Bradford. The bout is set to take place at PFL Lyon, scheduled for Saturday, December 19, bringing an exciting international flavor to the card as the promotion makes its return to France.
The organization formally announced the light heavyweight pairing through its official social media channels on Saturday, generating immediate buzz among European MMA fans. PFL Lyon will emanate from the state-of-the-art LDLC Arena, located just outside the vibrant city of Lyon, France. While the newly announced Gassama-Bradford bout adds tremendous depth and intrigue to the preliminary or main card lineup, the event already boasts a historic anchor at the very top. The fight card will be headlined by a high-profile championship battle featuring Taylor Lapilus squaring off against Mitchell McKee, where the two athletes will vie to capture the inaugural PFL bantamweight championship.
For Bafode Gassama, the upcoming December event marks a monumental step in his professional fighting career as he steps under the prestigious PFL banner for the very first time. The undefeated French contender enters the promotion carrying a pristine 4-0 professional record, backed by a reputation for finishing fights in dramatic fashion. Gassama most notably claimed the Hexagone MMA light heavyweight championship back in April, delivering a stellar, disciplined performance that earned him a hard-fought unanimous decision victory over a tough and experienced opponent in Lajos Papp.
At 32 years of age, Gassama enters the prime of his athletic career with significant momentum behind him. Having successfully finished three of his four professional opponents prior to the final bell, the French powerhouse possesses the kind of well-rounded finishing instinct that makes him a dangerous addition to the PFL’s light heavyweight division. Fighting on home soil in front of a passionate French crowd at the LDLC Arena provides an additional layer of motivation for Gassama as he looks to make a resounding statement in his promotional debut against a proven test.
Standing across the cage from the promotional newcomer will be Coby Bradford, a competitor who is already well-acquainted with the pressures and expectations of fighting inside the PFL cage. Bradford holds a 6-4 professional record and brings valuable organizational experience into enemy territory. He most recently showcased his skills during the PFL’s summer stop in the United States, where the promotion visited Washington, D.C., on July 25. In that outing, Bradford turned in an impressive performance, securing a victory by forcing his opponent, Chad Yard, to tap out via a rear-naked choke.
That submission victory in the nation’s capital not only demonstrated Bradford’s composure under fire but also proved that he possesses the grappling acumen and killer instinct required to excel on a major global stage. Now, tasked with welcoming an undefeated, hungry local champion to the organization, Bradford has an opportunity to secure the biggest win of his career and derail the promotional debut of a rising star in front of a hostile international audience.
The clash between Gassama and Bradford highlights the PFL’s ongoing commitment to showcasing elite regional talent alongside established international stars, creating a bridge for local champions to test themselves against global competition. As the MMA world turns its attention toward the final stretches of the calendar year, PFL Lyon is shaping up to be a landmark event for the promotion, blending championship stakes at bantamweight with high-impact matchups across other key weight classes like the 205-pound division.
With both men possessing distinct paths to victory—Gassama relying on his powerful striking, finishing instincts, and the backing of a partisan French crowd, and Bradford bringing proven grappling prowess and previous PFL experience—the light heavyweight encounter promises high drama when the cage door closes on December 19 at the LDLC Arena.
