Cedric
Doumbe will make his Bellator
MMA debut against Derek
Anderson in the
Bellator Champions Series Paris co-headliner on May 17.
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The bout is part of a multi-fight extension signed by Doumbe with
Professional Fighters League, which purchased Bellator late
last year. A former two-time Glory Kickboxing welterweight
champion, Doumbe has quickly emerged as one of PFL’s biggest stars
in Europe.
“Re-signing Cedric Doumbe to a multi-year contract extension has
been one of our highest priorities since he joined the promotion
last year,” PFL CEO Peter Murray said in a release. “Cedric is a
large part of our continued growth in France, and now he will
compete at Bellator Champions Series Paris on a fight card that can
be streamed by fans in the U.S. on Max, as he continues his
trajectory through our global leagues.”
The addition of Doumbe vs. Anderson is part of some significant
shuffling at the top of the Bellator Paris card. The event’s
original headliner, a lightweight title tilt pitting reigning
champion Usman
Nurmagomedov against Alexander Shabliy, has been postponed due
to an undisclosed injury suffered by Nurmagomedov. The fight is
expected to be rebooked in the “near future,” according to a
release. Meanwhile, a bantamweight championship showdown between
Patrick
Mix and Magomed
Magomedov has been elevated to the main event.
Bellator Champions Series Paris takes place at Accor Arena in Paris
and will air on Max in the United States. The card also includes a
middleweight contender’s bout between Costella Van Steenis and
Gregory
Babene.
The 31-year-old Doumbe began his professional MMA tenure with five
straight victories, including a nine-second knockout of Jordan Zebo
in his PFL debut this past September. In his last outing, the
Frenchman suffered a controversial third-round TKO defeat to
Baissangour
Chamsoudinov at
PFL Europe 1. The contest was halted when Doumbe complained to
referee Marc Goddard
about an injury to his left foot at the 1:21 mark of Round 3.
Doumbe later
revealed that he had been hindered by a splinter in his foot
during the bout.
Anderson, meanwhile, has compiled an 8-4 mark under the Bellator
banner since his promotional debut in 2013. Most recently, the
Californian returned to action following more than a two-year
hiatus this past September, when he scored a 30-second submission
of Ray
Parker at a Gladiator Challenge event.