Paul to fight MMA star Doumbe on 24 December

Published2 November 2026

Jake Paul has announced he will fight MMA star Cedric Doumbe on 24 December in Dubai.

The bout will be Paul's first fight since losing to former British heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua last December.

American Paul had to have two titanium plates fitted and some teeth removed after Joshua broke his jaw during the contest.

The 29-year-old influencer said in May that his boxing career was "most definitely" in doubt following the injury, but he will now return to action on Christmas Eve.

The event, which will take place at the Coca-Cola Arena, will be a professionally sanctioned eight-round cruiserweight bout with the fighters using 10oz gloves.

Cameroonian-born Frenchman Doumbe is a multi-time kickboxing world champion-turned MMA fighter.

The 34-year-old is signed to the Professional Fighters League (PFL) - an MMA promotion that Paul's Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) merged with in July.

He has won two of his three fights since joining the PFL in 2023, but has only one professional boxing bout to his name, which he won in 2015.

Paul has won 12 of his 14 fights as a professional, with his two defeats coming against Tommy Fury and Joshua.

In July 2025, Paul earned a place in the WBA's cruiserweight rankings after beating former world champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, but he lost that ranking in January after defeat by Joshua.

Paul was knocked down twice against the British two-time heavyweight world champion before being stopped in the sixth round.

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