Cédric Doumbé returned to the win column in spectacular fashion when met Jaleel Willis in the co-main event of Bellator Champions Series: Paris.
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The former GLORY kickboxing champion made his PFL debut to considerable fanfare last year and scored an incredible 9-second KO, but his next outing against Baysangur Chamsoudinov ended in premature and controversial fashion due to splinter in Doumbé’s toe.
“Le Meilleur” was originally slated to make his Bellator debut against Derek Anderson before Willis stepped in, and after the MMA veteran tested the Frenchman’s takedown defense early on Doumbé ended things with an onslaught of strikes late in the first round.
REDEMPTION IN PARIS FOR “THE BEST” 🔥
Cédric Doumbé stops Jaleel Willis in the first round and sets up a matchup with Anthony Pettis! 👀#BellatorParis | LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 Live on MAX
🇫🇷 Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/Frqh8tbnO1— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 17, 2024
All six of Doumbé’s victories in MMA have now come via finish, and four of those wins have come inside the very first round.
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Spectators at the Accor Arena in Paris included NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wenbanyama, but Doumbé was surprised when PFL veteran and former UFC champion Anthony Pettis entered the cage and challenged the Frenchman to a showdown in Paris.
” I WANT TO FIGHT HIM HERE IN PARIS” 🇫🇷
Anthony Pettis and Cédric Doumbé agree to a fight in the future and Anthony Pettis wants to take him on in enemy territory! 😳#BellatorParis | LIVE NOW
🇺🇸 Live on MAX
🇫🇷 Live on DAZN pic.twitter.com/gechMygkdm— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 17, 2024
A meeting with Pettis would easily be the biggest matchup of Doumbé’s still-young MMA career, and although “Showtime” hasn’t competed under the Bellator banner a showdown between the two stars could headline the promotion’s biggest show yet since being purchased by the PFL.
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