At the point when Cedric Doumbe took out Jordan Zebo inside nine seconds on his PFL debut in September, it affirmed what his fans in France previously thought - he is a star. Frenchman Doumbe, 31, who is previous double cross kickboxing champion, has developed a volatile continuing in his nation of origin, however this was his openness to the world. With Zebo lying level on his back following a devastating left snare from Doumbe, the TV cameras slice to fan response inside the field.
Standing surprised in shock was French footballing genius Kylian Mbappe, flanked by some of his PSG colleagues. PSG had played 425km away at Clermont Foot in a 0-0 draw that day and following the match, Mbappe and his colleagues got a trip back to Paris particularly to watch Doumbe battle. "Kylian was astonished by the opposition and the evening. He let me know that he's getting a charge out of all that I do," said Doumbe.
"We said that we need to go eat something together, and he said he will observe every one of my battles. He said regardless of whether it's in the US he will awaken at 5am to watch the battle, so that was extremely, cool. He's a hero." Doumbe has won five of the initial six battles of his MMA profession subsequent to progressing from kickboxing, with the possibly imperfection on his record coming in Spring when his battle was questionably halted after he grumbled about a shard of glass in his foot.
On Friday he gets back to the location of that loss in Paris, contending at the Accor Field before 16,000 fans for the second time inside 90 days, when he faces American Jaleel Willis at the Bellator Champions Series. All doumbe's successes in MMA have dropped by stoppage, yet it's not only his thrilling battling style which has gotten the eyes of French fans, it is his appeal and lively character.
During his walkout to confront Zebo, Doumbe conveyed a bedding to the enclosure with Bonne Nuit [goodnight] Jordan composed on it, and before his loss by Baysangur Chamsoudinov in Spring he posted a video via web-based entertainment with a rescue vehicle realistic. "I think individuals like me in view of the manner in which I like to sell a battle previously, the manner in which I act during the entry, the manner in which I take individuals out, the way I back my words up," said Doumbe.
"Then additionally they like my character. I'm not a trouble maker, I'm hero. "Regardless of whether certain individuals are frustrated the manner in which the last battle finished they know after the following battle they will get back on the train. Regardless of whether they say it, they are understanding reasoning: 'What is Cedric Doumbe going to do straightaway?'"
'With popularity you can send a decent message' Doumbe says it was only after MMA was legitimized in France in 2020 that his ubiquity took off in the country. He adds that for this reason the fans show up so enthusiastic as well, on the grounds that the game actually addresses another experience for them. In Spring, tickets for his battle against Chamsoudinov sold out in less than 20 minutes, as per the PFL., outside Doumbe decides to utilize his foundation to spread positive messages to his fans.
"At the point when I began battle sports I was hoping to turn into a whiz however when you grow up and you get some development, you comprehend that isn't anything," said Doumbe. "In any case, indeed, I'm appreciating it, in light of the fact that with the acclaim you can reach such countless individuals. I send great messages like harmony. I'm a Muslim, so I like to spread the tranquility of my religion and family thought. "The most significant is youngsters on the grounds that the large piece of my adherents are the adolescent. That is the reason I like to spread that great energy."
The headliner on Friday sees American Sketchy Blend shield his bantamweight title against Russia's Magomed Magomedov, yet Doumbe accepts his battle will feel like the headliner. "Since we are in Paris and on the grounds that individuals extremely, truly like me. Not on the grounds that [Mix and Magomedov] aren't great contenders - they are," said Doumbe. "So as far as I might be concerned, I'm the headliner and each and every individual who comes is to watch me battle."