Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) announced that cruiserweight Jake “El Gallo de Dorado” Paul (12-2, 7 KOs) will face multi-time kickboxing champion Cédric Doumbé (75-7-1, 45 KOs kickboxing; 6-1, 6 KOs MMA; 1-0 boxing) of France in a boxing showdown on Thursday, December 24th at Coca-Cola Arena in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Paul vs. Doumbé will be an eight-round bout contested at 200 pounds with ten ounce gloves. An exclusive presale for PFL Dubai ticket purchasers will begin Friday, November 6th at 12 pm GST/9am CET. The kickoff press conferences take place Tuesday, November 10th in Paris and Thursday, November 12th in Dubai. Both kickoff press conferences will be free and open to the public, giving fans in Paris and Dubai the opportunity to see Paul and Doumbé face off ahead of their highly anticipated showdown.
The Christmas Eve matchup marks Paul’s first professional fight in Dubai and pits one of boxing’s biggest commercial attractions against one of Europe’s most accomplished and recognizable combat sports stars. A former two-time Glory kickboxing champion and a PFL mixed martial arts contender, Doumbé brings elite striking credentials, championship experience and knockout power into the boxing ring. The matchup unites two athletes who have built their careers on high-profile performances, outspoken personalities and an ability to command attention well beyond their respective sports.
The event is being brought to Dubai through a cooperation agreement between MVP, Dubai Sports Council and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), building on the city’s established relationship with PFL and a shared commitment to delivering world-class sporting and entertainment experiences. The partnership reinforces Dubai’s position as a leading international destination for major sporting events and represents another significant milestone in MVP’s global expansion following its merger with the Professional Fighters League (PFL).
Since making his professional boxing debut in 2020, Paul has become one of the sport’s biggest commercial attractions, headlining record-breaking events and drawing massive global audiences. His November 2024 showdown with Mike Tyson (age 59 at the time) drew 125 million Live+1 viewers globally on Netflix, while his December 2025 event against former two-time unified heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua drew 33 million Live+1 viewers worldwide. Throughout his career, Paul has faced high-profile opponents from across boxing and combat sports, earning victories over former MMA superstars Tyron Woodley, Anderson Silva and Nate Diaz before defeating former boxing world champion Julio César Chávez Jr. in June 2025. His matchup with Doumbé adds another accomplished international combat sports star to that list.
Paul said: “Cédric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in 9 seconds. Well Douchebag, now you get your chance. 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. Just like Usyk feasted on Rico Verhoeven, I am going to eat you for dinner in Dubai on Christmas Eve and have a Coca-Cola at the arena to celebrate. You like to talk a lot, so let’s see what you have to say in person at the press conferences next week in Paris and Dubai. To the proud people of France, excuse-moi for what I am about to do, but your son has been naughty and he’s going to get punished. To all the fans in Dubai and all of MENA…we are doing this and we are doing it big, like Dubai always does. I’m baaaaaccccccccck.”
Born in Cameroon and raised in France, Doumbé is one of Europe’s most recognizable combat sports stars. A former two-time GLORY welterweight world champion with a 75-7-1 kickboxing record and 45 knockouts, Doumbé transitioned to MMA, recording six knockout victories in his first seven professional bouts. His explosive nine-second knockout of Jordan Zebo in his September 2023 PFL Europe debut in Paris cemented his reputation as a sporting attraction in France. Known for his outspoken personality, showmanship and passionate following, Doumbé now returns to professional boxing to face Paul in a high-profile international showdown uniting two of combat sports’ biggest personalities.
Doumbé said: “Jake Paul calls himself the Problem Child, but he’s never faced a problem like me. He has no idea what a Frenchman is capable of, and on Thursday, December 24th in Dubai, I’m going to eat ‘El Poulet’ for dinner. Jake loves to talk, and so do I, but after what Joshua did to his jaw, I’m not sure how much talking he has left. I’m going to finish the job Joshua started. Dubai is a special city to me, and on Christmas Eve, I’ll be waving le Tricolore over his unconscious body. France, this one’s for you.”
Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions, said: “This Christmas Eve, Jake Paul returns to the ring after a year of uncertainty about his jaw and boxing career. Well in typical El Gallo fashion, he’s charging all the way back in and facing a multi-time world kickboxing champion. Cédric Doumbé has been calling to fight Jake Paul for several years and the timing of this matchup makes perfect sense. Both men understand how to command an audience, and both have built careers by delivering when the spotlight is brightest. And nowhere is brighter than Dubai, one of the world’s most extraordinary cities, a global destination that has established itself as a leader in sports, entertainment and hospitality. Having spent my teenage years in Dubai, I am very grateful to be bringing an MVP event of this magnitude to the city I fell in love with as a boy. Thank you to Dubai Sports Council and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism for their leadership and partnership in making this event possible.”
Khalfan Belhoul, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Sports Council was thrilled to have such a high-profile event at a perfect time in Dubai. “Dubai continues to strengthen its position as the world’s preferred destination for sport, bringing together exceptional athletes, leading promoters and fans from across the globe. Our growing calendar of major international events reflects both the city’s rising stature and thirst in global sport and the confidence organisers place in our ability to deliver outstanding experiences. Welcoming Jake Paul’s return to the ring adds another compelling occasion to that calendar. Through our collaboration with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism and Most Valuable Promotions, we look forward to delivering an event that captures global attention and reinforces Dubai’s ambition to shape the future of sport,” His Excellency Belhoul noted.
Dubai has established itself as a premier global destination for major sporting events and live entertainment, attracting world-class athletes, international audiences and fans from around the world. With its iconic skyline, world-renowned hospitality and reputation for hosting major international events, the city provides a fitting stage for Jake Paul’s highly anticipated return.
The event builds on PFL’s established presence in Dubai and the broader Middle East, where the promotion has staged major MMA events and developed relationships with regional partners. Through its previous events, PFL has helped introduce international audiences to combat sports in the UAE, providing a foundation for MVP to further expand its presence in the market. Paul vs. Doumbé represents a new chapter in that relationship, bringing together one of boxing’s biggest global stars and one of PFL’s most recognizable international athletes under the MVP banner.
Paul vs. Doumbé is sponsored by FanDuel, Fansly and Event Tickets Center and comes as MVP continues its global expansion following its merger with PFL, bringing together hundreds of elite athletes from around the world under one promotional banner. The combined organization operates across boxing, mixed martial arts, premium live events, athlete development and global media distribution, with a portfolio of leading combat sports properties and partnerships reaching audiences in more than 170 countries. The Christmas Eve event reflects MVP’s strategy of creating major international sports and entertainment moments by connecting established global audiences across different combat sports disciplines.
