Taylor Lapilus

Taylor Lapilus (born 8 April 1992) is a French mixed martial artist and boxer who is currently signed to the Professional Fighters League. He formerly competed in Bantamweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). He is a former TKO Major League MMA Bantamweight Champion. As of April 21, 2026, he is ranked fifth in the PFL bantamweight rankings.

Background Born in Villepinte and raised in Sevran, Lapilus competed in soccer on various levels in his youth. Before he began training in martial arts, he briefly attended college where he studied, and worked for a time as a welder.

Ultimate Fighting Championship Lapilus was expected to make his promotional debut on 4 October, 2014, as a short notice replacement against Dennis Siver at UFC Fight Night 53, filling in for an injured Robert Whiteford. However, the Swedish Mixed Martial Arts Federation subsequently deemed Lapilus an unsuitable opponent, and in turn, Charles Rosa was tabbed as the last-minute replacement.

Lapilus eventually made his debut against Rocky Lee on 11 April, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 64. Lapilus won the fight via unanimous decision.

Lapilus faced Yuta Sasaki on 20 June, 2015, at UFC Fight Night 69. Lapilus won the fight via TKO in the second round.

Lapilus faced Erik Pérez on 21 November, 2015, at The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.

Lapilus next faced Leandro Issa on September 3, 2016, at UFC Fight Night 93. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Post-UFC career After the sole boxing bout in 2017, Lapilus racked Bantamweight Championships in both TKO Major League MMA and German MMA Championships. In November 2019, it was revealed that Lapilus has signed with a new, Afro-European MMA promotion ARES Fighting Championship. Lapilus was expected to make his promotional debut in the promotion's inaugural event on December 14, 2019 against Bryan Caraway. However, Caraway withdrew from the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Marcos Breno. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Lapilus faced Wilson Reis at Ares FC 2 on December 12, 2021. He won the bout via unanimous decision.

Lapilus faced Demarte Pena for the vacant AFC Bantamweight Championship on April 16, 2022 at Ares FC 5. He won the bout and title via TKO stoppage in the first round.

Return to UFC Lapilus was scheduled to face Khalid Taha on September 3, 2022, at UFC Fight Night 209. However, Lapilus withdrew a week before the event due to a broken hand and was later replaced by Cristian Quiñónez.

Lapilus was scheduled to face Muin Gafurov on September 2, 2023, at UFC Fight Night 226. However, Lapilus was instead matched up with Caolán Loughrán after Gafurov withdrew due to visa issues. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Lapilus faced Farid Basharat on January 13, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 234. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.

Lapilus faced Cody Stamann on June 8, 2024, at UFC on ESPN 57. He won the fight by unanimous decision.

Lapilus was scheduled to face Felipe Lima on September 28, 2024, at UFC Fight Night 243. However, Lima withdrew from the fight for unknown reasons and was replaced by Vince Morales on short notice. Lapilus won the fight by unanimous decision.

Despite being 3–1 again in his second stint, on February 27, 2025, it was reported that Lapilus was once again removed from the UFC roster.

Professional Fighters League On March 25, 2025, it was announced that Lapilus signed with Professional Fighters League.

Lapilus was scheduled to face Ali Taleb on May 23, 2025, at PFL Europe Paris. However in early May, the organization announced that the event was cancelled. The bout was re-scheduled and took place on July 5, 2025, at PFL Europe 2. Lapilus won the bout via unanimous decision.

Lapilus faced Liam Gittins on December 13, 2025, at PFL Champions Series 4, and won the bout via unanimous decision.

Lapilus faced Kasum Kasumov on February 7, 2026, at PFL Dubai: Nurmagomedov vs. Davis, and won the bout via TKO in the third round.

Lapilus faced Jake Hadley on May 23, 2026, at PFL Brussels. He won the fight via unanimous decision.

Mixed martial arts style Having started his martial arts career with grappling and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, he is a grappler. Lapilus is a striker, being a long time Muay Thai practitioner. He is interested in the Israeli fighting system Krav Maga, and he has participated in several induction trainings and programmes.

Professional boxing career After his first UFC run, Lapilus opted to try boxing, facing Heri Andriyanto on May 27, 2017. He won by unanimous decision.

Mixed martial arts record Win

Jake Hadley Decision (unanimous) PFL Brussels: Habirora vs. Henderson

Brussels, Belgium Win

Kasum Kasumov TKO (punches) PFL Dubai: Nurmagomedov vs. Davis

Dubai, United Arab Emirates Win

Liam Gittins Decision (unanimous) PFL Lyon: Nemkov vs. Ferreira

Décines-Charpieu, France Win

Ali Taleb Decision (unanimous) PFL Europe 2 (2025)

Brussels, Belgium Win

Vince Morales Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Moicano vs. Saint Denis

Paris, France Win

Cody Stamann Decision (unanimous) UFC on ESPN: Cannonier vs. Imavov

Louisville, Kentucky, United States Loss

Farid Basharat Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Ankalaev vs. Walker 2

Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Win

Caolán Loughran Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Gane vs. Spivac

Paris, France Win

Demarte Pena TKO (elbows and punches) Ares FC 5

Paris, France Win

Wilson Reis Decision (unanimous) Ares FC 2

Paris, France Win

Marcos Breno Decision (unanimous) Ares FC 1

Dakar, Senegal Win

Nate Maness TKO (kick to the body) TKO 48

Gatineau, Quebec, Canada Win

Josh Hill Decision (split) TKO 45

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Loss

Denis Lavrentyev Decision (unanimous) RCC Intro 1

Ekaterinburg, Russia Win

Farbod Iran Nezhad TKO (punches) German MMA Championship 14

Castrop-Rauxel, Germany Win

Ömer Solmaz Decision (split) German MMA Championship 13

Düsseldorf, Germany Win

Leandro Issa Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Arlovski vs. Barnett

Hamburg, Germany Loss

Erik Pérez Decision (unanimous) The Ultimate Fighter Latin America 2 Finale: Magny vs. Gastelum

Monterrey, Mexico Win

Ulka Sasaki TKO (punches) UFC Fight Night: Jędrzejczyk vs. Penne

Berlin, Germany Win

Rocky Lee Decision (unanimous) UFC Fight Night: Gonzaga vs. Cro Cop 2

Kraków, Poland Win

Cyril Ericher Submission (guillotine choke) 100% Fight 22

Aubervilliers, France Win

Osman Minbatirov Decision (split) Honor and Glory Fight Night 3

Béziers, France Win

Cyrille Dimbas Submission (armbar) 100% Fight 19

Aubervilliers, France Loss

Magomed Bibulatov Decision (unanimous) Grand European FC: Urban Legend Prestige 4

Villepinte, France Win

Nicolas Joannes Submission Knock Out Championship 6

Cognac, France Win

Chresus Mokima Submission (armbar) 100% Fight 13

Aubervilliers, France Win

Steve Polifonte Decision (unanimous)

Win

Souksavanh Khampasath Submission (triangle choke)

Win

Isa Abiev Submission (triangle choke) Octogone Fighting Club 4

Hainaut, Belgium

Professional boxing record