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Exclusive: 'Of course I miss being in the cage!' - Cédric Doumbè opens up on long-term absence
Cédric Doumbè hasn’t fought in nearly a year since his last bout and victory in Paris against Jaleel Willis, with the popular star admitting he misses the cage amid a long lay-off.
In an interview with DAZN News, “The Best” opened up about his absence, the rematch with Baki, PFL Europe in Paris, Doumbè Decides, and what motivates him to fight.
DAZN News: You haven’t fought in a year, don’t you miss it?
Cédric Doumbè: Of course I miss it, being in the cage. Of course I miss filling arenas. Of course the French public misses it too. But I also have a little revenge over that.
I’m voluntarily staying quiet and letting MMA live its life. We’re seeing that a lot of people are filing complaints on social media.
I want to tell them, go check out Baki, the faces of French MMA, the other French fighters for whom I have a lot of respect but who aren’t on my level.
But it’s true that MMA is dead right now, I miss it, and only Cédric Doumbè can bring the hype back. And I’m coming soon. Without me, French MMA is dead.
DN: Last December you were in the spotlight with Doumbè Decides. Could we see a similar concept return soon?
CD: It’s not impossible. Honestly, I loved it. We all know I like putting myself on stage, being involved in PFL projects to give the PFL a lot of support.
I also like to show my other talents. I’ve always wanted to be an actor, to act, to perform. It’s also a way to show what I can do on the side.
We could see a similar concept again, but for now, I’m laying low a bit because I know the public is hungry to see me fight, not just see me on the side.
So I’m working on side projects, especially outside of sports, which I really enjoy.
As for projects like Doumbè Decides, it’s best if we do fewer of them, but make them big events. It’s in the works, but for now, we’re still thinking about it.
DN: What’s your prediction for the fight between Patrick Habirora and Nicolas Di Franco?
CD: Habirora is really on a very, very good run. He’s the new generation. I think Patrick is on the right path, the right trajectory. I don’t think anyone will stop him for now.
DN: And for the co-main event between Ali Taleb and Taylor Lapilus?
CD: I really like Taylor Lapilus. The public is a bit hard on him. There won’t be anything spectacular happening in his fights, but he’s going to win.
And really, what we ask of fighters is to win. And Taylor wins the majority of his fights. I know he’s not a fighter who feels the pressure, he doesn’t get intimidated, I trust him.
DN: And for the main event between Mansour Barnaoui and Archie Colgan?
CD: Mansour won his last fight. He has a very tough story. I feel like MMA is a bit harsh on him. He was one of the pioneers of our generation in MMA.
He fought a lot abroad, he won, made a big name for himself. And he’s a spectacular fighter due to his physical abilities. His physical condition is incredible.
And then he was unknown in France, he was kind of the uncrowned king. He had a big war against Islam Makhachev. On paper, he beat him, but that’s sport.
Islam won the fight, but he praised Mansour. He’s highly respected too. I think his next fight will be a fight against himself and also everything that happened in his personal life.
DN: When will the rematch against Baki happen?
CD: Everyone’s asking me that question. It’s not “when is Doumbè vs. Baki?” The public wants to know when Doumbè is coming back.
If I were in their shoes, I’d want Cédric to come back. And I want Cédric to come back. I speak of myself in the third person because I think, this guy is incredible.
With the way he hypes up the fights, the atmosphere, and on top of that, he gets first-round KOs. I’d want to marry him.
DN: So there will be a rematch?
CD: First, Baki needs to fight. Cédric Doumbè has fought since. I fought and I won. First-round KO, The Vacuum Cleaner. I did everything I had to do.
Since then, we haven’t seen anything from him except for TV shows where he says he got more than he asked for, which is completely false.
I’m doing very, very well at the PFL. I’m in the PFL’s good graces. I know very well what he got paid. He didn’t get what he claims, and certainly not more.
He didn’t get what he asked for and he didn’t get more. He needs to stay in his lane. Maybe he’ll get that money later, if he ever reaches my level or maybe more, I don’t know.
That’s the fight everyone’s waiting for. It will happen. He can’t stay on a dishonest win. First, he needs to fight on his own, against reputable opponents.
Not against sheep, or goats, or sweet potatoes, or potatoes, but against real fighters. And then we’ll settle our score in the cage.
DN: Is becoming champion a goal for you?
CD: I’m already a champion. I was already champion in kickboxing. The belts are in my garage.
Of course, the goal is maybe to win the belt, to show that I am the champion I believe I am. It’s not my main target. I know I’ll get there eventually.
Do I wake up every day thinking I have to be champion? No. The goal of becoming a champion in life has already been achieved. I’ve done what no one else could do.
I became the MMA star that no one ever was in France. Now it’s just about smashing faces, making some money, and beating people up for a living.
I fight to build a bright future for my family, and also to entertain the public - that’s my primary ambition. Champion of the people
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