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Professional Fighters League is putting a pair of high-profile bouts atop the card for its year-end event.
The promotion announced on Wednesday that two championship fights — Vadim Nemkov vs. Renan Ferreira at heavyweight and Cristiane Justino vs. Sara Collins at featherweight — will serve as the featured attractions for PFL Lyon on Dec. 13. The event takes place at LDLC Arena in Lyon, France and will also include PFL Europe finals at lightweight and bantamweight. Broadcast details are expected to be revealed soon.
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“French MMA fans have been tremendous supporters of the PFL, and we are proud to deliver a card worthy of their passion and loyalty,” PFL CEO John Martin said in a release. “On Dec. 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.”
Three Former Champs Highlight PFL Lyon Card
Nemkov, who is coming off a first-round submission of Tim Johnson on Jan. 25, recently signed a multi-year contract to remain with PFL. The Fedor Emelianenko protege is unbeaten in his last 14 professional appearances, the majority of which have come under the Bellator MMA banner. He reigned as light heavyweight champion in the now-defunct organization, authoring four successful title defenses from 2021 to 2023. He moved to heavyweight in February 2024, when he tapped out Bruno Cappelozza in the second round at a PFL vs. Bellator event. The Fedorteam representative owns notable victories over the likes of Yoel Romero, Corey Anderson, Phil Davis (twice) and Ryan Bader, among others.
Ferreira, meanwhile, will return to action for the first time since suffering a first-round knockot loss to former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou at PFL Super Fights “Battle of the Giants” last October. The Brazilian known as “Problema” won the 2023 PFL heavyweight championship by besting Matheus Scheffel, Maurice Greene and Denis Goltsov in succession.
Justino has won nine consecutive outings dating back to her final UFC appearance in 2019. “Cyborg” made her PFL debut this past October, when she took a five-round verdict over Larissa Pacheco. Prior to that, the 40-year-old Brazilian reigned as Bellator 145-pound champ, earning victories over the likes of Julia Budd, Arlene Blencowe (twice), Sinead Kavanagh and Cat Zingano. In 2025, the former UFC, Strikeforce and Invicta FC champ has stayed active in boxing, winning three bouts in recent months.
Australia’s Collins emerged as a talent to watch during a three-fight stint in Bellator, where she defeated Pam Sorenson, Sinead Kavanagh and Leah McCourt. She hasn’t competed since September 2024, when she tapped McCourt in the opening stanza at Bellator Champions Series London.
This article first appeared at Recent News on Sherdog.com
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