Five months after a remarkable entry into the world of the Professional Fighters League (PFL), MMA icon Cédric Doumbè returned to the ring this Thursday for a highly anticipated encounter. The bout, held at theAccor Arena in Paris, saw two French behemoths clash in one of the most eagerly-awaited matches, pitting Doumbé against Baysangur "Baki" Chamsoudinov.
On September 30, Cédric Doumbè had brilliantly validated his reputation as the new MMA icon, by knocking out Jordan Zebo in a record time of nine seconds, in his first fight for the PFL. After a campaign marked by intense exchanges of verbal provocation, the former world kickboxing champion silenced the doubters and invigorated his fans with a breathtaking performance.
Doumbè, self-proclaimed"The Best", captivated the audience of 6,000 at the Zénith in Paris, which included celebrities such as Kylian Mbappé and Maître Gims. For his second appearance in the PFL arena, a fast-growing league in the world of mixed martial arts, he was expected at the Accor Arena, where the 15,000 tickets sold out in record time for what promises to be a memorable evening.
Un Combat Au Sommet! The two fighters, Baki and Doumbè, arrived unbeaten in the octagon, with impressive records of 8-0-0 and 5-0-0 respectively. This clash was all the more significant for Doumbè, who was making his comeback after a stunning victory six months ago.
It was an ending that left everyone wanting more, as the match finally came to a halt following the referee's decision. A foreign object on his toe, apparently a splinter or glass, was bothering Cédric Doumbè. He then asked the referee to take a break while he removed it, and the referee decided, against all odds, to end the fight. "I'm disgusted. I wanted a crazy fight," Doumbè lamented. I just wanted to remove the piece of glass or the piece of wood, I don't know. Baki said 'take it off'. I don't understand why the referee stopped the fight." In any case, Baki didn't lose out, landing a series of takedowns during the fight, which lasted 3 rounds before the final decision.
At the end of the bout, Doumbè asked Baki for a rematch, which he immediately accepted: "I'm ready for a rematch. I know the PFL has the means, so make sure you do this fight, and even in a bigger venue," he declares. The king of kickboxing was quick to announce a date for a rematch against his compatriot, scheduled for two months from now."The hall has been booked for May, that's it," he announced on Brut. "So, the objective is to make the fight in May. To be continued." Neither the venue nor the exact day have yet been announced.
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Location
Accor Arena
8 Boulevard de Bercy
75012 Paris 12
Access
Metro line 6 or 14 "Bercy" station
Official website
billetterie.accorarena.com
