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After a scrappy split decision loss to Alim Nabiyev, the former (now current) Glory welterweight champion and international badass, Cédric Doumbé, learned the lesson that Jorge Masvidal should’ve learned years prior: Being a technician is great, but so is knocking people out. Sure enough, Doumbé mopped up his very next opponent, Thonchai Sitsongpeenong, in just over 30 seconds to net his first finish in Glory. Currently riding a five-fight winning streak, four of those victories have come by way of stoppage, and Doumbé (occasionally derided for being a safe point-fighter) looks more dangerous than ever.

An uptick in aggression has been the story of Cédric Doumbé recently, but as one of the most tactically adroit fighters in modern kickboxing, there is a lot more to the Cameroonian-Frenchman’s style than meets the eye. It says a lot about a fighter when they establish themselves as both a nail and a hammer, but Doumbé is the rare breed who can both solve a difficult stylistic puzzle in front of him and confidently blast through them if need be.

Tactical Depth & Mechanical Breadth

The first aspect worth discussing about Cédric Doumbé is his stance. Foregoing a standard Dutch stance with an erect posture, a light lead leg and squared hips, Doumbé fights out of a bladed stance with his trunk folded over his lead hip. This allows him to step into his jab with more pop, as well as to slip, roll, and duck under incoming punches. There are moments where you might mistake Doumbé for a career boxer.