By his own admission, Cedric Doumbé (56-4-1, 35 KO’s) is rather an unknown quantity when compared to Nieky Holzken (90-11, 46 KO’s) and his previous title challengers such as Murthel Groenhart. Indeed it was a win over Groenhart earlier this year which pushed Doumbé into the title contender picture and then, once Holzken had eliminated his other top challengers, into this title shot.
“It’s a big chance for me to fight for the title but it’s not a big fight for him to fight me,” smiles Doumbé. “Actually I think Holzken is a little bit crazy to accept this fight with me, because for sure he is going to go down, to a guy that not so many people know about. I will get the title I am sure of it.”
Doumbé’s roots lie in Cameroon, but he has resided in France for most of his life and fights under the French flag. In his teenage years he was drawn to martial arts and started training in karate. From there he moved into karate’s competitive side, variously known as ‘sport karate’ or ‘full-contact kickboxing’. It is the base style of Raymond Daniels and Michael Page, among others.
The term ‘full-contact kickboxing’ really a misnomer, because the sport (also known as ‘shiny pants kickboxing’ by its detractors) does not allow kicks below the waist, thereby eliminating low kicks from a fighters arsenal.
It wasn’t until 2012 that Doumbé moved into kickboxing proper, the type showcased in GLORY. Still, the absence of low kicks hadn’t stopped him knocking people out. He has some real power in his hands.
Holzken is a veteran fighter with over a decade of top-level competition behind him, including numerous appearances in K-1 MAX. Doumbé has watched him for many years, watched him closely, and that is why he is so sure he can take the win this Saturday.
“I know this guy. I studied him. He is a very strong fighter and he has a lot of knockouts but not power like me. I know that I can knock him out,” he says.
“When you fight against a a champ like Nieky you cannot fight like Murthel [Groenhart] did, just make points and move around. He did good but it was not enough. There was discussion after the fight – some thought he won, some thought he lost. I don’t want that. I want everyone to see that the champ is down and Cedric has won.”
Doumbé’s study of Holzken also attuned him to the Dutch champion’s loathing of trash-talk before a fight. Holzken is an old-school kind of fighter, a relatively silent type who likes to do his talking in the ring. He has a keen sense of proper manners and is genuinely offended when fighters breach what he considers to professional etiquette.
Before their GLORY 26 AMSTERDAM showdown, Groenhart provoked Holzken to apoplexy via his relentless baiting of him in the fight media. Holzken won their fight but admitted afterwards that his focus in the fight had been clouded by anger, exactly as Groenhart had wanted it to be. Doumbé watched all this play out and took notes.
Then, Holzken and Groenhart were rebooked for GLORY 34 DENVER. Doumbé, who had already annoyed Holzken by calling him out in the ring following his own GLORY 28 win over Groenhart, saw an opportunity to begin the mind-games.
“When I saw he would fight Murthel I sent him a message on Instagram. I said, ‘Win this fight please, so then I can be the first to take your belt,’” he laughs. Holzken was furious; after winning a decision over Groenhart, Doumbé’s message was one of the first things he raised in his post-fight interviews.
Doumbé was delighted. “I saw his [post-fight interview] video. I got under his skin; he said I didn’t but yes, I did. That’s my game. Somebody thinks its just trash-talk or some bullshit but no, I only say the truth. I am the best, so may the best win. December 10, you will see.”
GLORY: COLLISION takes place this Saturday at the Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. Heavyweight champion Rico Verhoeven meets Badr Hari in the headline bout and the sold-out show also features a total of three title fights and two four-fighter tournaments.
It’s a huge year-ending event for GLORY and one of the most stacked cards in kickboxing history. The card is broken down into three separate sections, the first of which airs on ESPN, the second on UFC Fight Pass and the final segment on pay-per-view.
How to watch:
Opening the festivities will be the five-fight GLORY 36 GERMANY card, headlined by lightweight champion Sittichai against Marat Grigorian and also featuring a four-man lightweight tournament. That card airs in the US live on ESPN 3.
When that portion is concluded the action moves to UFC FIGHT PASS for the GLORY 36 SUPERFIGHT SERIES (which UFC FIGHT PASS is billing as the GLORY COLLISION Prelims). This card features the two semi-final bouts of the women’s Super-Bantamweight Grand Prix along with some appearances from new prospects and established veterans and is free for everyone to watch on Fight Pass – you don’t even need a login.
Once that card concludes, things switch to pay-per-view for the GLORY: COLLISION card itself. Two title fights are on this card: the final of the women’s tournament for the inaugural Super-Bantamweight title and then Holzken’s welterweight title defense against Doumbé. A heavyweight banger between #2-ranked Ismael ‘Mr Pain’ Londt and Jamal ‘The Goliath’ Ben Saddik follows.
Then, the main event. Twelve months of back-and-forth between Rico Verhoeven and Badr Hari will be settled in the ring in front of a full house. The pay-per-view is priced at $29.95 and is being presented jointly by GLORY and the UFC. If you’re new to kickboxing this is a great event to start with and you can get all the build-up, analysis and aftermath right here on Bloody Elbow.