Tag: PFL Europe 3

MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month for September: Cedric Doumbe’s nine-second stunner

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best knockouts from September 2023.

With another action-packed month of MMA in the books, MMA Junkie looks at the best knockouts from September 2023: Here are the five nominees, listed in chronological order, and winner of MMA Junkie’s Knockout of the Month award for September.

At the bottom of the post, let us know if we got it right by voting for your choice.

Nominees

Anthony Pettis responds to Cedric Doumbe’s callout after impressive PFL debut

Anthony Pettis welcomes a fight with PFL newcomer Cedric Doumbe if that’s what he wants.

[autotag]Anthony Pettis[/autotag] welcomes [autotag]Cedric Doumbe[/autotag]’s callout.

Doumbe (5-0) needed just nine seconds to knock out Jordan Zebo in his promotional debut this past Saturday at PFL Europe 3 in Paris. The former Glory Kickboxing champion thrilled his home crowd and already has his sights set on some of the biggest and most established names in the sport.

Before he enters the $1 million welterweight tournament, Doumbe wants to test his standup against a few veterans.

“I want to make big fights before that $1 million tournament challenge that I know I will win for sure,” Doumbe said on The MMA Hour. “I want to make big fights, like big superfights, face big guys like Jorge Masvidal, Nate Diaz, or maybe Anthony Pettis, you know. I want to face these kind of guys because I know that I can knock them out. I know I’m better than them. I just want to prove, to show to the world, who am I.”

The first to respond to Doumbe’s callout was former WEC and UFC lightweight champion Pettis (25-14), who sees a potential fight with Doumbe doing blockbuster numbers for the PFL.

“Biggest fight in PFL history👀📞.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cx6QaH6yIHM/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Pettis was most recently seen in action this past April, when he made his professional boxing debut against Roy Jones Jr. at Gamebred Boxing 4. He won the bout by majority decision. He hasn’t competed in MMA since April 2022, when he was eliminated from the PFL lightweight tournament semifinals by Stevie Ray.

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Cedric Doumbe def. Jordan Zebo at PFL Europe 3: Best photos from Paris

Check out the best photos from Cedric Doumbe vs. Jordan Zebo at PFL Europe 3 in Paris.

Check out the best photos from [autotag]Cedric Doumbe[/autotag] vs. [autotag]Jordan Zebo[/autotag], which took place Saturday at PFL Europe 3 in Paris (photos via PFL).

Video: Cedric Doumbe electrifies with 9-second knockout after walking out with mattress, awes Kylian Mbappé

Cedric Doumbe entered with a mattress, led the crowd and Kylian Mbappe in a deafening chant, and left his opponent unconscious in 9 seconds.

There are debuts – and then there’s what [autotag]Cedric Doumbe[/autotag] did Saturday in Paris.

At PFL Europe 3, Doumbe (5-0) treated his home country crowd to a memorable performance when he knocked out opponent [autotag]Jordan Zebo[/autotag] (4-1) in just nine seconds.

Doumbe, a former Glory Kickboxing champion with a 75-5-1 kickboxing record, may have overdelivered on an already highly-anticipated first PFL showing.

Before the fight even started, Doumbe had the crowd in the palm of his hand at Zenith Paris. As the crowd played along with opening chants during his walkout, Doumbe walked through the crowd with a mattress and pillow.

Following the cage announcer’s introduction, Doumbe hosted another chant as he spoke to the crowd just before referee Marc Goddard’s instructions.

The fight itself was over in a flash, as Doumbe caught a high kick attempt by Zebo. As Zebo turned Doumbe hammered him with a left hand and follow-up shots, that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

Soccer superstar Kylian Mbappé was among those whose mouths dropped, as he watched cage-side in absolute awe.

Doumbe, 31, enters PFL with a bang. He signed with the promotion in May after being linked to the UFC. While details still remain unclear, Doumbe was expected to compete for the UFC in Paris September 2022. After the French commissioning body determined Doumbe’s limited MMA experience was, in its view, too much of a discrepancy from his targeted opponents, the promotion and fighter parted ways.

Full PFL Europe 3 results include:

  • Cedric Doumbe def. Jordan Zebo via knockout (punches) – Round 1, 0:09
  • Abdoul Abdouraguimov def. Brad Wheeler via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:43
  • Jakob Nedoh def. Anthony Salamone via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:35
  • Simeon Powell def. Daniel Ladero via unanimous decision
  • Dakota Ditcheva def. Cornelia Holm via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:55
  • Yazid Chouchane def. Henrique Madureira via unanimous decision
  • Laureano Staropoli def. Baba Boundjou Nadjombe via TKO (corner stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
  • Khushed Kakhorov def. Ali Taleb via unanimous decision
  • Frans Mlambo def. Mokta Benkaci via split decision
  • Jakub Kaszuba def. Dylan Tuke via unanimous decision
  • John Mitchell def. Geysim Derouiche via unanimous decision
  • Shanelle Dyer def. Luisa Fernanda Cifuentes via unanimous decision

Video: ‘The Lazy King’ Abdoul Abdouraguimov quickly wins PFL debut, announces drop to lightweight

After he couldn’t come to terms with the UFC, “The Lazy King” Abdoul Abdouraguimov has officially arrived in PFL in style.

[autotag]Abdoul Abdouraguimov[/autotag] has officially arrived in PFL.

Saturday, Abdouraguimov (17-1) made quick work of [autotag]Brad Wheeler[/autotag] (18-14) when took the fight to the ground and won by rear-naked choke at 2:43 of Round 1. The 180-pound fight was the co-main event of PFL Europe 3 at Zenith Paris La Villette in Paris.

Wheeler proved to be game on the feet, though his opportunity there was short lived. After a few punches landed on Abdouraguimov, “The Lazy King” shot for a takedown. He quickly sliced through Wheeler’s grappling defense, took the back, locked in the choke, and got the tap.

After weeks of angling for a UFC opportunity, “The Lazy King” ultimately signed with PFL in August. Since his signing came during the 2023 PFL Playoffs, Abdouraguimov won’t enter the promotion’s season format until 2024.

Following the win, Abdouraguimov voiced excitement to compete in the United States next and announced in the cage he will drop to lightweight.

Abdouraguimov, 28, has won seven fights in a row. He has 12 submissions and two knockouts in 17 professional victories. Prior to his signing, Abdouraguimov was the ARES FC champion at both welterweight and middleweight.

Up-to-the-minute PFL Europe 3 results include:

  • Abdoul Abdouraguimov def. Brad Wheeler via submission (rear-naked choke) – Round 1, 2:43
  • Jakob Nedoh def. Anthony Salamone via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 1:35
  • Simeon Powell def. Daniel Ladero via unanimous decision
  • Dakota Ditcheva def. Cornelia Holm via TKO (strikes) – Round 3, 2:55
  • Yazid Chouchane def. Henrique Madureira via unanimous decision
  • Laureano Staropoli def. Baba Boundjou Nadjombe via TKO (corner stoppage) – Round 2, 5:00
  • Khushed Kakhorov def. Ali Taleb via unanimous decision
  • Frans Mlambo def. Mokta Benkaci via split decision
  • Jakub Kaszuba def. Dylan Tuke via unanimous decision
  • John Mitchell def. Geysim Derouiche via unanimous decision
  • Shanelle Dyer def. Luisa Fernanda Cifuentes via unanimous decision