France’s own Cedric Doumbe, who makes his Bellator debut here tonight, can be considered one of the greatest kickboxers in the modern era, going 75-8 in the sport with a pair of welterweight championships in GLORY Kickboxing. He ended up transitioning over to MMA in 2021, scoring three knockouts before his PFL debut in September 2023, needing mere seconds to knock out Jordan Zebo at a PFL Europe card in Paris. A toe injury, however, caused Doumbe to be upset by Baissangour Chamsoudinov at a PFL Europe event in March.
Jaleel Willis’s combat sports journey began through wrestling as a youth before making his professional MMA debut in 2014. The Kill Cliff FC product has a strong grappling background but won his first five fights via knockout. Willis, a former welterweight champion on the regional scene, has won seven of his last 10 and competed in his eighth Bellator fight tonight. “The Realest” most recently fought at Bellator 297, losing to Ramazan Kuramagomedov.
Will Doumbe rebound from the loss in March, or will Willis pull off his biggest win ever?
Round 1
Willis comes right after Doumbe with a front kick. The kick is caught but he throws a punch. Left hand from Willis. Left kick by Willis. Willis goes in for a takedown but gets stopped by a cross from Doumbe. Willis looked for another takedown but Doumbe sprawled to stop it. A right hand in close drops Willis! Willis is able to get up. Doumbe pressuring close. Left hand from Doumbe. Left hand from Willis. Low kick from Willis. Right hand causes Doumbe to slip. Willis runs in, but he slips as Doumbe gets up! The two back on their feet.
Short right hand from Willis. Willis throws the long jab. Right hand by Willis connects. Front kick up the center by Willis. Left hand by Doumbe. Combination by Doumbe drops Willis! Doumbe scrambles and throws ground and pound! Doumbe lands a knee! Doumbe firing off his flurry! Mike Beltran steps in!
REDEMPTION IN PARIS FOR "THE BEST" 🔥
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 17, 2024
Cédric Doumbé stops Jaleel Willis in the first round and sets up a matchup with Anthony Pettis! 👀#BellatorParis | LIVE NOW
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Cedric Doumbe gets it done in the first! He and Anthony Pettis look to be headed for a showdown! Pettis gets into the cage during Doumbe’s post-fight interview, and it sounds like Pettis wants to face Doumbe in Paris next!
" I WANT TO FIGHT HIM HERE IN PARIS" 🇫🇷
— Bellator MMA (@BellatorMMA) May 17, 2024
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
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OFFICIAL RESULT
Cedric Doumbe defeats Jaleel Willis by 1st round TKO in a 175 lb. catchweight bout