“We remain hungry.”
After weeks of quarrels and provocations on social networks, Cédric Doumbè and Baysangur “Baki” Chamsoudinov have agreed on one point: the outcome of their duel is disappointing.
This Thursday evening, at the Accor Arena, the young Frenchman won in the third round by stoppage by the referee, “The Best” complaining of a splinter in his foot.
A decision criticized by the public but which offers victory to Baki, who therefore remains undefeated in ten fights.
Immediately, the question of a rematch arose.
While the two men were still in the cage, Cédric Doumbè called for this duel to be repeated, believing that it was not over.
He reiterated his request at a press conference.
“There was no fight,” he regretted.
I think the public wants to see a whole fight and it's frustrating for them and for me.
For me, it's a defeat, and for him, it's not a real victory.
It takes a real fight.
»
When asked about this, Baki did not refuse the idea, but still did not say yes.
“I'm only 22 years old, I just did a main event in front of 20,000 people, facing the biggest MMA star in France,” he stressed.
I beat him when everyone thought I was going to lose.
I'll move on.
We might be able to have a revenge but we will have to line up the tickets.
» The resident of the MMA Factory is now in a strong position to negotiate a good purse.
From May 17 at the Accor Arena?
Will the PFL, organizer of the fight, however be ready to take out the checkbook?
Dan Hardy, who decides the posters for the American organization, hopes in any case to see a rematch.
“This fight deserves to be resolved,” he said.
Even if Baki confronts someone else, it will still seem unresolved.
It wouldn't be as interesting as a rematch in my opinion.
Honestly, after two rounds, I thought it took 25 minutes to decide between these two guys.
We need a big stadium, a rematch and stars on the rest of the card, and we're going to get the crowds pumped once again.
»
Particularly demanding of this new confrontation, which he does not consider as a “revenge” but as a “logical continuation”, Cédric Doumbè has already mentioned May 17, when Bellator returns to Paris, at the Accor Arena.
Recently bought by the PFL, the organization will invest the capital for the fourth time and could welcome the two French fighters.
However, this seems unlikely, even if Dan Hardy assured that he would discuss it with Bellator.
“We work closely together but Bellator still operates independently for the moment,” he explained.
They have already done a lot of work for the May card, but if Doumbè has his place in this evening, we will do it.
»
Another possibility exists later in the year.
Because the PFL will return once again in 2024 in France, the location having not yet been defined.
Will Baki wait until then?
Will he prefer to seize a better opportunity, he who can ride on this success to target the UFC, the queen organization?
Without a doubt.
Unless the PFL leaders break the bank to hold it back.