Jake Paul to fight MMA star Cedric Doumbe in Dubai on Christmas Eve
Jake Paul returns to the ring to face French MMA star and former kickboxing champion Cedric Doumbe in an eight-round cruiserweight bout in Dubai on Christmas Eve.
- Headline: Jake Paul to fight MMA star Cedric Doumbe in Dubai on Christmas Eve
- Dispatch Summary: Jake Paul returns to the ring to face French MMA star and former kickboxing champion Cedric Doumbe in an eight-round cruiserweight bout in Dubai on Christmas Eve.
- Verification: Corroborated across independent reporting outlets with primary sources and real-time wire transmissions.
Jake Paul is returning to the ring to face French MMA star Cedric Doumbe in an eight-round cruiserweight bout at the Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai on December 24. While the world already knew Paul was fighting on Christmas Eve, the identity of his opponent brings a decorated kickboxing champion into the boxing ring against an American influencer who spent much of the past year recovering from jaw surgery.
The matchup brings together two fighters with very different backgrounds in combat sports. Paul, the 29-year-old YouTuber-turned-boxer, holds a professional record of 12 wins and 2 losses since starting his pro career in 2020. His victories include a win over 58-year-old Mike Tyson in 2024 and a win over former champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in July 2025. That win earned Paul a spot in the World Boxing Association cruiserweight rankings, but he lost that position in January following a sixth-round knockout loss to Anthony Joshua in Miami last December.
Doumbe, a 34-year-old Cameroonian-born Frenchman, is a multi-time kickboxing world champion who made the jump to mixed martial arts in 2021. He is signed to the Professional Fighters League, an MMA promotion that merged with Paul's Most Valuable Promotions in July. Since joining the PFL in 2023, Doumbe has won two of his three fights. Despite his extensive combat credentials in other disciplines, Doumbe has only one professional boxing match on his record, which he won in 2015.
What led to this Christmas Eve showdown?
Paul's return to action follows a brutal defeat against former British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua last December. During that fight in Miami, Joshua knocked Paul down twice before stopping him in the sixth round and breaking his jaw. The injuries required multiple surgeries, the removal of teeth, and the installation of two titanium plates during a long and painstaking recovery process.
In May, Paul admitted that his boxing career was most definitely
in doubt due to the severity of the damage. His last win before the layoff came against Chavez Jr., while his only two career losses remain defeats against Tommy Fury and Joshua. In announcing the fight, Paul acknowledged his physical status by stating, I'm rusty, my jaw is janky and I don't have kickboxing world titles like you do. But guess what, this isn't kickboxing mon ami. This is BOXING.
Paul also referred to his opponent by saying, Cedric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in nine seconds. Well, Douchebag, now you get your chance.
How do the fighters compare inside the ring?
| Metric | Jake Paul | Cedric Doumbe |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 29 | 34 |
| Pro Boxing Record | 12-2 | 1-0 |
| Weight Class | Cruiserweight (200 pounds / 90.7kg) | Cruiserweight (200 pounds) |
| Primary Background | Boxing | Kickboxing and MMA |
The bout is structured as a professionally sanctioned contest with specific physical parameters. Both fighters will wear 10-ounce gloves for the eight-round cruiserweight clash at the 200-pound limit.
What happens next before opening bell?
The fighters are scheduled to meet at press conferences in Paris and Dubai next week before the bout.
