Social media star Jake Paul will return to the ring on Christmas Eve for the first time since having his jaw shattered into nigh-on a million pieces against Anthony Joshua last December. The American content creator turned boxer is scheduled for a festive bout against decorated former kickboxer Cedric Doumbe in a Dubai dust-up. The announcement of Doumbe as Paul's opponent has come as a huge shock to boxing fans, many of whom are frantically Googling the Cameroonian-born Frenchman to learn more about his combat sports background before the opening bell rings in the United Arab Emirates.
Who is Cedric Doumbe?
Cedric Doumbe was born in Douala, Cameroon and moved to France at nine years old with his widowed mother and sister. The family settled in Paris, where Doumbe, a self-described class clown who wanted to be an actor or a comedian, excelled as a student. He went to university to study psychology, but dropped out in his late teens to pursue a career in kickboxing.
When did Cedric Doumbe start kickboxing and how many fights does he have?
Cedric Doumbe made his professional kickboxing debut in June 2011. He was undefeated for nearly five years before losing to Raphael Mebenga in the semi-finals of the Wicked One Tournament. Doumbe reached the pinnacle of kickboxing in 2016 when he joined Glory. He won four of his first six fights in the promotion before going on a seven-fight win streak on his way to winning and defending their welterweight title. Doumbe would close the book on his kickboxing career, which he ended with a record of 63 wins, 45 knockouts, 17 losses and one draw, by vacating his title in November 2021 to pursue mixed martial arts.
When did Cedric Doumbe start MMA?
Cedric Doumbe made his mixed martial arts debut in November 2021, technical knockout-ing Arbi Emiev in the first round of their Dubai dust-up. He stopped Phruethukorn Chaichongcharden eight months later before being snapped up by the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Doumbe was set to debut in the promotion's first event on French soil in September 2022. But he was pulled from the Paris card after the French MMA Federation refused to sanction his bout with Darian Weeks due to the experience discrepancy between the pair. Doumbe later revealed that the result of a pre-fight magnetic resonance imaging scan also led to the fight being called off. The Ultimate Fighting Championship ended up releasing Doumbe from his contract without ever having him set foot inside the Octagon. Doumbe would fight twice more in the French regional scene before signing with the Professional Fighters League in May 2023 and debuting in the promotion in September 2023. And to say he made a statement against debut opponent Jordan Zebo would be an understatement. Just moments after making his cage walk with a mattress, a visual prop to symbolise his intention to put his opponent to sleep, Doumbe flatlined Zebo in nine seconds, much to the amazement of the in-attendance Kylian Mbappe and his Paris Saint-Germain team-mates. He controversially lost his next fight against Baissangour Chamsoudinov, better known by his nickname of Baki, via third-round technical knockout after complaining of having glass stuck in his foot. Doumbe returned to the win column two months later with a brutal first-round technical knockout victory over Jaleel Willis in a catchweight bout.
Has Cedric Doumbe boxed before?
Cedric Doumbe, who hasn't fought in over two years, has boxed professionally before. But he only has one professional fight to his name, a points decision victory over Mohamed Fodil in April 2015. This limited traditional boxing experience makes the upcoming test against Paul a fascinating stylistic clash for combat sports observers worldwide.
Can Cedric Doumbe beat Jake Paul?
You can never say never in combat sports, which often reminds us of just how unpredictable fighting can be. But the odds are well and truly stacked in Paul's favour. The American will be the bigger, stronger and younger man in the Dubai dust-up. And as was often the case in the early goings of Paul's fighting career, he's facing someone who hasn't dedicated their combat career to the Sweet Science. Fans interested in other holiday combat showdowns can also read about Jake Paul targets Christmas Eve return with Darren Till among potential opponents to understand the broader schedule context.
Background on Kickboxing and MMA Glory
Kickboxing has a rich history spanning decades across promotions like K-1, Glory, and various European circuits. Athletes often transition from striking disciplines into mixed martial arts or traditional boxing to test their skills and capture larger paydays. Organizations such as Glory established weight classes and tournament structures that turned fighters into international stars before modern crossover bouts dominated combat sports entertainment.
What happens next in the buildup
Promotional tours, press conferences, and media workouts typically precede high-profile combat sports events in international hubs like Dubai. Both competitors will enter training camps to prepare for the specific weight limits and rule sets agreed upon for the encounter. Athletic commissions and local sports authorities oversee medical clearances, drug testing protocols, and licensing requirements ahead of the opening bell on December 24.
