It took less than a round for the former kickboxer to put away Jaleel Willis, and he fired off a bucket full of ammunition in the process, connecting again and again on the dazed American.

After the fight, Doumbe (6-1) gave props to Willis for coming in with a smart game plan.

“I like him, big respect to him. He had a good study for the fight, I respect that,” he told media outlets including Cageside Press backstage at the Accor Arena. “But as I said I’m the best, and it showed.”

Now, there’s the question of next steps for Doumble, a budding star who the PFL signed out from under the UFC’s nose and clearly intend to use as much as possible. A match-up with Derek Anderson, Doumbe’s original Bellator Paris opponent, is a possibility. Anthony Pettis was also on hand in Paris on Friday, to hype a potential fight between the pair, perhaps in Paris, perhaps in Saudi Arabia.

“There’s no doubt, Anthony Pettis is a better choice, is a way better choice than Derek, because of his name, because of what he’s done in this sport, in UFC,” replied Doumbe when asked which opponent he’d rather face, and where. “So for me, Anthony Pettis in my back yard is amazing.”

Cedric Doumbe also discussed his goals for the future, which include more than just winning a championship.

“I know that I will soon have the PFL, Bellator belt, no matter what organization I’m in I will have the belt. And in fact I know that it will not be enough, I will be champion and yes that will be magnificent,” stated Doumbe, speaking in French. More than just winning the belt, however, he wants to follow through on his predictions, and knock out his opponents. And should Bellator welterweight champ Jason Jackson, who “spoke badly” of Doumbe, still have the belt when he gets to that point, “I’m going to knock him out. Then I take the belt and I defend it. I predict I defend, defend, defend.”

Watch the full Bellator Paris post-fight press scrum with Cedric Doumbe above.

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Willis walked out to a sea of boos, while Doumbè walked out to a reception nothing short of incredible. Without wasting a second both fighters met in the middle. Doumbè defended Willis’s first attempt, rocked him, and then again on the second shot. Doumbè`s overhand was landing with conviction early in round one.

Willis then briefly dropped Doumbe, only to be caught by the Frenchman while charging in. Willis was landing, but Doumbè’s shots were much more powerful. Doumbè then floored Willis with a beautiful shot. After some ground and pound, Mike Beltran had seen enough and stopped the fight. The crowd went WILD. Doumbe passed the toughest test of his MMA career thus far.

Former UFC-Champion, Anthony Pettis entered the cage, and expressed interest in fighting Doumbè in Paris. Looks like Pettis and Doumbè will square off next, whether it is in Saudi Arabia or Paris.

Official Result: Cedric Doumbe def. Jaleel Willis via R1 TKO, 3:33

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Headlined by a bantamweight title fight and rematch between Patchy Mix and Magomed Magomedov, the card was brimming with top French talent beyond the main event, including the return of kickboxer-turned-mixed martial artist Cedric Doumbe, making his Bellator debut. Already a mainstay under the PFL Europe banner, Doumbe was looking to shake off a bizarre loss in his last fight, when a splinter/debris in the cage had rendered him unable to continue.

At Bellator Paris, Doumbe was paired up with Jaleel Willis, who had nearly sparked a brawl at the card’s ceremonial weigh-ins a day earlier.

Where to Watch Bellator Champions Series 2

Friday’s Bellator Paris card in Paris, France airs live on HBO MAX in the U.S. and on Fight Network in Canada. Full results from the event, which gets underway at 12PM ET, can be found below.

Bellator Paris: Mix vs. Magomedov Full Results

Main card

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“It doesn’t matter who they put in front of me. For me its just another day at the office. I just train like I train everyday. I train hard I drop the weight. I step in the cage and just fight,” Doumbe told reporters including Cageside Press during a media call on Tuesday.

“I don’t really need to make any strategy for the fight. I just adapt myself in the cage in the first round. It doesn’t matter.”

Doubme (5-1) was supposed to fight Derek Anderson in Paris, but he withdrew from the bout almost immediately. The other issue surrounding this fight, for Doumbe, is the possibility of having Marc Goddard as ref.

At PFL Europe 1 Doumbe’s fight was stopped due to a to injury in a bizarre sequence that handed him his first professional loss. Doumbe promptly put the blame on Goddard following the fight.

“I will ask Bellator to (not assign) me that referee, but if they can’t (it) doesn’t matter. I fight against the opponent not against the referee,” he said.

“I will not even look at him or talk to him so it doesn’t matter for me.”

Watch the entire media day scrum with Cedric Doumbe above. He takes on Jaleel Willis at Bellator Paris on Friday night.

The post Cedric Doumbe Doesn’t Want Marc Goddard As Ref appeared first on Cageside Press.

As anticipation intensifies for the bout between Cedric Doumbe and Jaleel Willis on May 17, the French star has taken to social media to further respond to his American foes’ comments.

After an electrifying PFL debut last year following the decision not to further pursue a UFC contract, Doumbe became one of the breakout stars for the promotion after the turnout and reaction from the fans at home in France made him the centerpiece of the PFL’s foothold in Europe.  After an anticlimactic finish to his last bout at home, he now has another chance to bring his home country crowd to their feet against the confident Willis.

“Jaleel says that he will come to visit Paris, yeah he’s right. He’s only coming to visit Paris. That’s it. Nothing else. The moment he will step inside the cage, he will get, I swear to God, no one has hit him the way I’m going to hit him. You know One Punch Man? Now you know Cedric Doumbe. Cedric Doumbe will beat you Jaleel like no one ever beat you in your life. After the knockout I will take the mic and say ‘Hey. What did I tell you? What did I tell you!’ You didn’t want to listen. I’m the best. I knockout every opponent I face and you are just another one. Another one on the list. Seven fights, six wins, one splinter. [It’s going to be] eight fight, seven wins, one splinter.”

During their media call last week, Bellator veteran Willis had expressed what the moment meant to him to be flown internationally for the opportunity to take on a rising star in Doumbe.  While he was excited for the chance to see one of the world’s most visited destinations, he made it clear he was looking to score the moment of his career against the Frenchman after doing work in Bellator and the LFA in the United States.

“How many times do anybody get to go into anyone’s backyard and dominate and do some s*** and be glorified for it and not get locked up.”

While Doumbe and Willis are expected to deliver one of the more exciting performances of the night, the event will be bolstered by the headlining act where bantamweight champion Patchy Mix looks to repeat against perennial contender Magomed Magomedov.

The post Bellator: Doumbe and Willis Exchange Barbs Ahead of Paris Clash appeared first on Cageside Press.

A strong showing from @jaleelwillis1. #Bellator289 @MonsterEnergy Prelims LIVE now 👇
🔗 https://t.co/Jk8YoAvXBr pic.twitter.com/r1c5uTEV4o

— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) December 10, 2022

While the French fans were ecstatic to hear that their native star Cedric Doumbe would be competing at home once again in May, perhaps one of the most unexpectedly happy to hear the news was upcoming foe Jaleel Willis.

“The Realest” is a longtime pro with a 16-5 record that includes six fights under the Bellator banner and a handful of LFA bouts to his credit as well.  A prospect out of Tennessee, Willis made a name for himself before getting his break in late 2020 when he was signed to Bellator.  While he was immediately thrown into the deep end of the proverbial pool with fights against fellow vets Sabah Homasi, Mukhamed Berkhamov, Kyle Crutchmer, and upcoming title challenger Ramazan Kuramagomedov, the opportunity to go overseas to fight a star like Doumbe is another level entirely.

“I’m blessed up one hundred percent. I’m happy to have this opportunity. I’m trying to see what it’s like over there in Paris straight up. I am going to see the Louvre. I am going to see the Mona Lisa and everything over there. A young brother like me, we’ve never been out there. I would never have had to have gone to Paris for any reason so it’s good to go out to Paris to smash this man and I get to have a reason to go see the Louvre and take my family to go see some good **** too, know what I mean?”

To be sure, a victory over kickboxing veteran turned breakout MMA star Doumbe would be the kind of career elevating moment that would change the conversation for Willis in terms of his place in the global welterweight pecking order.  But outside of that, Willis acknowledges that this moment in elevating his career from fighting domestically to being granted the opportunity to be flown around the world is an accomplishment in itself.

“When you’re from Memphis, yeah one hundred percent.  I didn’t even think I’d get a chance to see what’s going on outside of Tennessee. My first time on an airplane was 2018.  Imagine how I’m feeling, they’re flying me to Paris to whoop some ***.  Too clutch.  I feel like I’m hitting the biggest lick of all-time.”

Jaleel Willis takes on Cedric Doumbe at Bellator Paris on May 17, 2024.

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On Monday, promotion officials announced that the planned main event between Usman Nurmagomedov and Alexander Shabliy was off, the result of an undisclosed injury sustained by lightweight champ Nurmagomedov. As a result, the planned co-headliner between bantamweight champ Patchy Mix and Magomed Magomedov now shifts to the main event slot.

Nurmagomedov vs. Shabliy, which closes out Bellator’s lightweight grand prix (seemingly without the million dollars in prize money, since the promotion was scooped up by the PFL and rebranded as the Bellator Champions Series), is expected to be rebooked for a later date.

Additionally, French star Cedric Doumbe has been added to the Bellator Paris card; he’ll face Bellator vet Derek Anderson in the new co-main event.

Doumbe was last seen fighting under the PFL Europe banner last month, were a freak accident – a splinter in his toe – led to the first loss of his career. The injury TKO came against fellow French standout Baissangour Chamsoudinov, who has reportedly singed on with the UFC.

Bellator Paris is set to take place at the Accor Arena in Paris, France on May 17, 2024. The following match-ups have been announced for the event:

• Patchy Mix (c) vs. Magomed Magomedov – for the Bellator MMA bantamweight championship
• Cédric Doumbé vs. Derek Anderson
• Gregory Babene vs. Costello van Steenis
• Yves Landu vs. Jonas Bilharinho
• Archie Colgan vs. Thibault Gouti
• Slim Trabelsi vs. Louie Sutherland
• Mansour Barnaoui vs. Yusuke Yachi
• Imamshafi Aliev vs. Mike Shipman
• Aspen Ladd vs. Ekaterina Shakalova
• Asael Adjoudj vs. Bruno Fontes

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At 5-0 coming in, Doumbe is still inexperienced in MMA despite being one of the best kickboxers ever, but at only twenty-two years old, Baki is also inexperienced in his own undefeated, seven-fight MMA career as well. With his wrestling ability, Baki presented a stiff test for Cédric, by far the hardest of his career. However, the same could be said the other way around for Chamsoudinov against Cédric’s striking. The ultimate result of this seemingly binary stylistic matchup was utterly bizarre, as despite the competitive nature of the bout, Baki walked out the winner by TKO after Cédric got a splinter in his foot.

They came out to choruses of, “Baki, tres mort,” a tradition among Doumbé’s fans, meaning ‘you’re dead.’ They exchang jabs with Doumbé inching forward. Baki refusd to throw until the kickboxer opened up with a leg kick, at which point Chamsoudinov caught it and took him down. However, Doumbé used butterflies to push Baki off and get back up. Baki got another takedown and stayed on top for longer, but Doumbé got up again. However this time Baki kept the back body-lock and was able to land a double leg. Cédric got butterfly hooks again, and got up, and went right back down onto his knees from a dump. Bakl again held onto the body-lock but this time Doumbé escaped. The striker stalked the wrestler for the rest of the round but landed naught save for a few jabs. In fact, the last second saw Baki counter with a right hand.

Although Baysangur won the first round, Doumbé showed impressive get-up abilities against a great wrestler, boosting his fans’ cheers. Cédric landed clean with his lead hand a few times, staying composed behind it with both jabs and lead hooks in the start of the second frame. A jab from Doumbé as Baki level changed knocked Baki to his knees for a second, but it was more an off-balancing than a truly damaging shot. Still, Cédric defended the first takedown from Chamsoudinov and maintained the range well with that elite jab. Baki shot a second time and got to the clinch, but Doumbé escaped off the fence. Baki landed with his own excellent jab, but continued to be stuck on the back foot. Doumbé landed his first big right hand off a 1-2 with forty seconds left in the round, and only ramped up his pressure from there but Baki got out of the round.

The score was clear, 19-19, going into the third round. It began with a big right hand from Doumbé and a failed takedown attempt from Baki. The striking gap did not close thereafter. Doumbé paused the fight momentarily and pointed at his toe to Mark Goddard, indicating something which noone could tell. Goddard told him to keep going but Doumbé gestured again, and the referee stopped the fight in response. The crowd erupted in anger and the circumstances were sketchy.

Doumbé went to show the referee something in his toe, possibly a sliver of wood or glass. Baki won the fight by TKO, but after Doumbé explained to the audience the circumstances, there would be no doubt a rematch would come next. He called for one, and Baki’s team accepted there in the cage, though he asked for a bigger stadium and more money for the second fight. The two fighters embraced after and showed their friendship, with Cédric stating that him and Baki are brother in Islam.

Official Result: Baysangur ‘Baki’ Chamsoudinov def. Cédric Doumbé by TKO (injury)

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After a stunning night in their French debut last year, the Professional Fighters League was now in the confines of the Accor Arena, with the Paris card a sold out affair. And for good reason, with the one-two punch of Cedric Doumbe and Abdoul Abdouraguimov leading the way in the main and co-main events, respectively. Two fighters the UFC had managed to let slip away in free agency.

Where to Watch PFL Paris / PFL Europe 1 2024

Thursday, March 7, 2024’s PFL Europe 1 card might be geared towards the European audience but the final five fights of the evening will stream via the Professional Fighters League’s Youtube channel in the U.S. Full results from the event can be found below; the action gets underway at 11AM ET.

PFL Europe 1 2024 Results

Baissangour Chamsoudinov def. Cédric Doumbé via R3 TKO (Toe Injury), 1:21
Abdoul Abdouraguimov def. Jack Grant via Split-Decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Ibrahim Mané def. Chequina Noso Pedro by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28) — PFL Europe welterweight quarterfinal
Ignacio Capella def. Yazid Chouchane by knockout, Round 2, 2:31— lightweight quarterfinal
Jakub Kaszuba def. Kane Mousah by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) — lightweight quarterfinal
Daniele Miceli def. Yassin Najid by technical submission (Von Flue choke), Round 1, 0:27  — welterweight quarterfinal
Islem Masraf def. Mickaël Groguhe by knockout, Round 1, 0:10
Patrick Habirora def. Claudio Pacella by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)
Connor Hughes def. Anatolij Baal by knockout (uppercut), Round 1, 1:31 — lightweight quarterfinal
Daniele Scatizzi def. Aleksandr Chizov by submission (inside heel hook), Round 1, 1:59 — lightweight quarterfinal
Florim Zendeli def. Tomasz Łangowski by submission (rear-naked choke), Round 1, 4:11 — welterweight quarterfinal
Kevin Del def. Younes Najid by submission (kneebar), Round 1, 1:10
Andreeas Binder vs. Mark Ewen – cancelled
Marian Dimitrov vs. Erhan Kartal — welterweight quarterfinal (cancelled due to Kartal weight miss)

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French striking sensation Cedric Doumbe is set for an encore as he kicks off the 2024 PFL Europe season this Friday in Paris.

Last fall, “Le Meilleur” delivered a breakout performance in front of his home country as he made his long-awaited promotional debut.  Doumbe needed only seconds to dispatch Jordan Zebo with an electrifying finish that even brought French football superstar Kylian Mbappe to his feet in the front row.  The MMA world wasted no time being put on notice as tomorrow’s event has already been announced as a sell out and Bellator champion Jason Jackson called for about with Doumbe later this year after his own victory weeks ago.

The headliner will be an all-French showdown as Doumbe’s opponent is Baysangur “Baki” Chamsoudinov.  Chamsoudinov enters the bout riding a perfect 7-0 record with nearly half of those victories coming by way of finish.  The Frenchman also trains out of a prestigious team in the MMA Factory that features UFC heavyweight contender Ciryl Gane and ONE standout Taylor Lapilus.  “Baki” last fought in June of 2023 where he stopped The Ultimate Fighter winner Efrain Escudero.

PFL Paris: Doumbe vs Chamsoudinov Weigh In Results:

Welterweight: Cedric Doumbe (170.2) vs. Baissangour “Baki” Chamsoudinov (170.4)
Welterweight: Abdoul Abdouraguimov (169.7) vs. Jack Grant (169.3)
Welterweight: Ibrahim Mane (170.8) vs. Chequina Noso Pedro (169.9)
Lightweight: Yazid Chouchane (154.7) vs. Ignacio Capella (156)
Lightweight: Jakub Kaszuba (154.9) vs. Kane Mousah (155.9)
Welterweight: Yassin Najid (1709.9) vs. Daniele Miceli (169.7)
Heavyweight: Mickael Groguhe (261.9) vs. Islem Masraf (216.2)
Lightweight: Patrick Habirora (156) vs. Claudio Pacella (154.8)
Lightweight: Connor Hughes (155.7) vs. Anatolij Baal (154.9)
Lightweight: Alex Chizov (154.9) vs. Daniele Scatizzi (154.3)
Welterweight: Tomasz Łangowski (169.5 ) vs. Florim Zendeli (169)
Middleweight: Younes Najid (186) vs. Kevin Del (185)

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