Taylor Lapilus scores decision win to mark PFL Debut

Taylor Lapilus is a veteran of the sport who has competed all over the world, picking up several regional titles along the way. Lapilus, who trains at the MMA Factory, has 10 finishes and comes into tonight with eight wins in his last nine bouts. He makes his PFL debut tonight off a win over Vincent Morales.

Ali Taleb has scored finishes in 10 of his 12 victories, with six coming in the first round. Taleb earned a regional bantamweight title before joining PFL Europe for its inaugural 2023 season. Though he fell short of earning a title, he then joined PFL MENA’s inaugural season last year, defeating Nawras Abzakh, Jalal Al Daja, and Rachid El Hazoume to become the inaugural PFL MENA Bantamweight Champion.

Which of these two noteworthy names will come out on top in tonight’s co-main event in Belgium?

Round 1

Taleb is coming forward with a bit of twitchiness. The two showing their lead hands as Taleb circles. Nothing so far through 30 seconds. Low kick from Lapilus. More hand fighting. Another low kick from Lapilus. Taleb coming forward. Both men with short combinations. Taleb blocks a kick. Taleb misses a left hand. Taleb catches a kick and lands a combination. Body kick by Lapilus. Taleb follows Lapilus around. Right hand by Taleb. Left hand lands for Taleb. Lapilus misses a right hand.

Right hand by Taleb. Jab from Lapilus. Straight left from Lapilus. A round kick from Lapilus is blocked. Right hand from Lapilus. Taleb comes forward and Lapilus lands a knee to the body. Combination by Taleb. Lapilus misses with the left. Right hand by Lapilus. Left hand by Lapilus. Lapilus goes for a body kick. Right hand by Taleb. Right hand by Lapilus. Taleb misses a spinning backfist. Lapilus lands a knee before Taleb presses him against the fence.

Round 2

Right hand from Lapilus. Low kick from Taleb. Back to hand fighting. Taleb misses with the left hand. Lapilus misses with the left. Low kick from Taleb. Lapilus dances around the outside. Not a lot of action in the first minute or so. Taleb tries for a small combination. Lapilus lands a body kick. Right hand by Lapilus. Front kick from Lapilus is blocked. Jumping high kick by Lapilus.

Lapilus knocks Taleb down! Taleb goes for an armbar but Lapilus avoids it and lands some ground-and-pound! The ref warns Taleb for having a hand in Lapilus’ glove. Lapilus now looking to pressure while in Taleb’s guard. Lapilus trying to land small shots inside. Ref calls for action. Taleb tries to keep a hold of Lapilus, and he works himself back to his feet. Right hand from Lapilus. Lapilus with another right hand. Lapilus misses a head kick. Right hand and a left from Lapilus to answer a leg kick from Taleb. Body kick from Lapilus. Combination from Taleb, but it doesn’t all connect.

Round 3

Round kick by Lapilus. Combinations from both men, and Lapilus gets the better of it. And once again. Knee to the body by Lapilus. Taleb lands one of his own before Lapilus presses him into the fence. Taleb connects with a knee to the body on the exit from the clinch. Left hand from Lapilus. Right hand by Taleb. Left hand by Lapilus. Right hand from Lapilus. Left-right combo from Taleb. Body shot and a right hand by Lapilus. One-two from Lapilus. Strong kick to the body from Lapilus.

Right hand from Lapilus. And again. Body shot from Lapilus, but Taleb presses him into the fence. Lapilus reverses the position. They break. Taleb with a kick but he eats a jab. Right hand from Lapilus, and Taleb lands a short right hand. Low kick from Taleb. Right hands from Lapilus. Left hand from Taleb. The left hand again puts Lapilus back a bit. Lapilus might be cruising here. Combinations from both men. One-two from Lapilus. Lapilus with a left hand. Taleb misses a pair of rights before the horn.

OFFICIAL RESULT

Taylor Lapilus def. Ali Taleb via unanimous decision (30-27 x3)