Jaleel Willis Steps in to Face Cedric Doumbe at Bellator Champions Series Paris

🚨 𝙊𝙁𝙁𝙄𝘾𝙄𝘼𝙇: Cédric Doumbé takes on USA’s Jaleel Willis at #BellatorParis!

Following the withdrawal of Derek Anderson due to injury, @jaleelwillis1 steps in to challenge @CedricDoumbe in Paris on Friday May 17.

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Cedric Doumbe has a new dance partner for his Bellator MMA debut.

The promotion announced on Wednesday that Jaleel Willis will replace the injured Derek Anderson and face Doumbe at Bellator Champions Series Paris on May 17 at Accor Arena. Anderson was forced to withdraw from the event after suffering a foot injury during an alleged hit-and-run accident on his bicycle.

The 32-year-old Willis has lost three of his last four Bellator appearances. Most recently, he suffered a first-round knockout loss against Ramazan Kuramagomedov at Bellator 297 in June 2023. Willis has been finished inside of a round in all three of his most recent defeats.

Doumbe began his professional MMA tenure with five straight victories, including a nine-second knockout of Jordan Zebo in his PFL debut this past September. In his last outing, the Frenchman suffered a controversial third-round TKO defeat to Baissangour Chamsoudinov at PFL Europe 1. The contest was halted when Doumbe complained to referee Marc Goddard about an injury to his left foot at the 1:21 mark of Round 3. Doumbe later revealed that he had been hindered by a splinter in his foot during the bout.

Bellator Champions Series Paris is headlined by a bantamweight title tilt between Patrick Mix and Magomed Magomedov. The card will air on Max in the United States.