Cédric Doumbè was back at the Accord Arena on Friday May 17, two months after his sad defeat against Baki. He did not miss the opportunity to redeem himself and put some of the public back in his pocket.
5 mins
Under a few drops of rain, at the entrance to the Accor Arena, while the very first fight begins inside, Marcel, 22, waits with his two friends before entering. He had already come to attend the fight between Cédric Doumbè and Baki last March, an event that the Franco-Cameroonian “ spoils “, according to him. So, this Friday, “ This is his last chance, either he knocks out or no one talks about him anymore » judges the young man.
Crossed a little further, Kévin, 27, UFC tracksuit on his shoulders, had also paid for his ticket to see the long-awaited “Baki-Doumbè”. “ It disappointed me that he stopped for a splinter, knowing that there are fighters who break bones. There, a thorn…», he breathes.
Read alsoMMA: Doumbè loses to Baki at the end of a mixed evening for the PFL
An evening in which he had no room for error. This is what Cédric Doumbè had to face. Two months after the thorn of discord, he was already back in a prison cage. MMA, on the occasion of the arrival of Bellator, sister organization of the PFL, in Bercy. For the occasion, the Accor Arena was adorned with a beautiful outfit, as American combat organizations know how to make them.
With everything I do for MMA, this is how I get thanked?
Among some of the ticket holders, the excitement of the evening was mixed with resentment. An aftertaste of “all that for that” that they had kept under their tongues since March. “ Many spectators came to see him lose ”, could be heard here, “ He’s going to get booed so much… you’ll see ! », judged others.
The room made them lie. Even though it wasn’t quite full. The fault lies with a more discreet “The Best” on its social networks, therefore less salesy, accompanied by a “hype” that has gone down a notch. What the person concerned explained in a hot press conference after his fight: “II didn’t communicate because I was disappointed and angry with everyone. With everything I do for MMA, this is how I get thanked? So, I sulk », referring to the mixture of mockery, hatred and insults received after his one and only defeat in this sport.
The fact remains that the numerous competitions on Instagram and And yet, like Kylian Mbappé, first lightly whistled then finally cheered by the Parc des Princes for his last match, the audience very quickly remembered that they came to see a man above all. This is evidenced by the few seats abandoned after the victory of the Franco-Cameroonian.
The latter still benefited from a little help from the speaker of the evening, who will deserve a small increase from his bosses. To warm up the forces present, between each fight, he chanted the star’s first name, expecting his last name from the public in return, as if the 31-year-old had just scored a hat-trick at home .
“Jaleel you’re dead! » And Jaleel was defeated
“ The majority are not connoisseurs, they are guys who have seen Doumbè… and they came to the event without knowing », Marcel had said, a little acerbically, before entering the room a little earlier in the evening. It’s hard to blame him; Unlike the UFC public who have a keen eye for cheering fighters who demonstrate complex techniques, this Friday, the Accor Arena vibrated above all for the French fighters.
After a few French victories and a few disappointments, it was time. “ Who’s next, it’s Cédric ? » rejoiced some in the press area. Armed with a vacuum cleaner, and therefore a lot of self-deprecation, Doumbè made his entrance, making sure to clear the path of any thorns. Not without making his fans shout before entering the cage: “ Jaleel ?! You are dead !” And Jaleel was defeated.
And with style, a stopping of the fight by the referee in the first round, the latter having considered that Willis was no longer able to defend himself under the blows of his opponent. All this, after the showman native of Douala showed some qualities on the ground and dodges as skillful as they were entertaining, under the eyes of a Victor Wembanyama in the front row, visibly delighted, almost hilarious. “ It’s crazy “, could we read on the lips of the French giant.
At 31, too late for Doumbè to hope to receive the Rookie of the Year award. On the other hand, he has plenty of time in front of him to review his competitors at welterweight in Bellator and PFL. Starting with Anthony Pettis, legend of this sport, who came to challenge him directly in the cage at the end of the fight. See you in December, the two men said. A pact sealed by a “ Pettis you’re dead! » shouted by the audience, galvanized by the show. If he doesn’t celebrate Christmas, Doumbè could give himself a nice gift as the end-of-year holidays approach by paying himself quite a name.