Vive Le Trash-Talk! Jake Paul and Cédric Doumbé Meet in Paris
· Yahoo Sports
What to Know
- Jake Paul and Cédric Doumbé appeared in Paris on Tuesday for the kickoff news conference ahead of their Most Valuable Promotions cruiserweight boxing fight on Christmas Eve in Dubai.
- Paul returns to the ring one year after Anthony Joshua knocked him out and broke his jaw.
- Paul, whose company now owns the PFL, is using the fight as an opportunity to promote the new venture, which will be known as MVP MMA.
Vive le trash-talk!
Visit somethingsdifferent.biz for more information.
On Tuesday evening at Pavilion Cambon in Paris, France, Jake Paul and Cédric Doumbé came face to face for the first time to kick off the promotion for their cruiserweight fight on Thursday, December 24, 2026, at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
In front of a boisterous crowd that laughed and cheered at every comment, the pair offered enough trash talk to satisfy fans’ expectations.
The fight card is promoted by Most Valuable Promotions. No broadcast agreement or undercard lineup has yet been announced. So Paul and Doumbé had to carry the presentation.
Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) will face French superstar Doumbé (75-7-1, 45 KOs kickboxing; 6-1, 6 KOs MMA; 1-0 boxing) in a sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight boxing match contested at 200 pounds with ten-ounce gloves.
It will be Paul’s first professional fight in Dubai against one of Europe’s most accomplished and recognizable combat sports stars.
MVP MMA Gets A Boost
Paul chose Doumbé for an obvious reason, and it’s in three letters: PFL. Recall that Most Valuable Promotions acquired the Professional Fighters League in July. Starting in January, PFL will be renamed and known moving forward as MVP MMA.
What better way to introduce MVP’s new mixed martial arts ventures than matching up Jake Paul with one of the PFL’s most recognizable stars in a crazy Christmas Eve blockbuster event in one of the richest nations in the world?
Doumbé pointed out that he will essentially be fighting his new boss. Imagine being paid to punch out the person who signs your paycheck.
“ I want to thank… I want to thank Nakisa (Bidarian). He’s the boss. And Jake, he’s the boss, too … My boss will pay me to knock him the fuck out. That’s crazy. We never see that. You never see that before,” laughed Doumbé.
Who is Cédric Doumbé?
Cédric Doumbé is a bona fide star – but not as a boxer. Photo: DAZNFor those not familiar with him, Cédric Doumbé is a former two-time GLORY kickboxing world champion and PFL MMA contender with high-level striking credentials, championship experience and knockout power. Both Doumbé and Paul have built their careers on high-profile performances, outspoken personalities and the ability to command attention.
At the official kickoff announcement, Paul and Doumbé did their thing, and they did it well, ending in the required faceoff.
“We’re ready for this guy,” declared Paul, acknowledging his opponent’s resume as “one of the best in MMA. This guy’s great. Very bien. But he’s getting knocked the fuck out on Christmas Eve.
Kickboxing will not help him, people. On December 24th, the legs will just be used for transportation. This is boxing. He’s gonna learn a very, very hard lesson,” said Paul.
Doumbé wasn’t hearing it. “I have more than 75 fights; I’ve never fought a go-go dancer.
“Jake. I have to say… Hey, I say, you look like a go-go dancer with all the bling on you. You look like your wife. You look like a bitch. Dance for me, dance for me!” taunted Doumbé.
“This guy is crazy. He’s really crazy. He wants to face me in boxing, and that’s where I’m stronger than MMA or kickboxing. I’m stronger in boxing.
“Now, he thinks he will beat me. He will face me in MMA. What the fuck are you talking about? And after MMA, what would you want? A wrestling match? The go-go dancing match? I think he’s high right now. I think he smoked something before the press conference.”
Jake Paul: He’s Gonna Learn
Jake Paul arrives in Paris for the kickoff news conference on Tuesday. Photo: Most Valuable PromotionsPaul insisted Doumbé has never faced an opponent like him.
“He’s gonna learn. And by the way, I think he’s great. He thinks I’m underestimating him. He’s a KO artist. He’s a two-time world champion. He’s the highest of his pedigree. He’s what, 33 years old? He’s in his prime. He’s still, you know, on top of this whole entire game. And so he thinks I’m underestimating him.
“It’s not what I’m doing. I’m training as hard as I possibly can. And I know he’s going to bring a tough fight, but it’s just not going to be enough, and that’s it at the end of the day,” said Paul, promising he will retire if he loses on December 24.
Doumbé said he had to answer the call when Paul started coming at him.
“Look, anyone who calls me out and shit-talks and says that they can beat me at the end of the day, I’m gonna take the challenge and prove to him, and everyone out there, and his fans, that he’s not as good as me, and that he’s going to get knocked out.”
“Hey, talk your shit. I’m finally glad I get an opponent that talks shit. I’m used to carrying the promotion on my back. Please talk your shit, Cédric. Sell the pay-per-views!” insisted Paul.
Jake Paul and Cédric Doumbé Make Early Predictions
No surprise that both men insist the fight will end in an early knockout, each claiming he’ll be the one to do it.
Paul says he sees weaknesses in Cédric’s game. “A lot of wild looping shots, no straight shots, everything he throws is predictable. He telegraphs his shots. He doesn’t set anything up. But he does have power, you know, behind them sometimes. Doesn’t have a good jab, not-so-good defense, and his chin is in the air. The body is open. There’s a lot, there’s a lot,” to work with.
Doumbé said it will take just one punch to flatten his opponent. “I don’t need to be a good boxer. I just need one punch. I did it 45 times before. One punch. Only one punch. You have eight rounds. I only need one punch. And he thinks he will avoid every punch. That’s impossible!”
Doumbé insisted he isn’t bothering to train very hard before facing Paul, saying he’s watching Netflix videos and that’s it.
“I don’t really do nothing. I have everything to beat this guy. This guy is a joke. He’s a very great YouTuber, but he’s not a fighter. He’s not even a good boxer. I just need to lose weight to face this guy. My weight now is 100 kg.
“I’m not training to avoid any of his skills. You don’t have anything,” said Doumbé to Paul. “He’s boxing. He has only three punches: jab, right hook, and body jab. That’s it. No power, nothing, is fat, no abs, nothing. Only, maybe, good tattoos, but tattoos don’t help you in the ring.”
A Little Respect Peeks Out
Both men know what their roles are, and they played them to perfection in Paris on Tuesday. Photo: Most Valuable PromotionsAside from the trash talk, the pair acknowledged some respect for one another.
Paul explained why he chose Doumbé as an opponent (besides being his boss).
“He’s a big name. He’s a world champion. He’s one of the best kickboxers, one of the best MMA fighters. He’s young, still on top. He has a big following, and I have said it before, and I’ll say it every single time. I’ll fight anyone, anytime, any place. And this is the fight that lined up and made the most sense.”
“I respect that he chose me. That’s why I respect. I respect him as a person, but as a boxer, I would never respect him. If he beats me, that will never happen; then I will respect him as a boxer,” concluded Doumbé.
Paul said he and Bidarian have always wanted to stage an event in Dubai and are looking forward to spending Christmas Eve there. “It’s gonna be a movie. It’s gonna be a movie. It doesn’t get better than this. So I’m very excited. He’s the perfect opponent for me.”