PFL News: Cedric Doumbe vs. 'Baki' Chamsoudinov Ends in Bizarre Controversial Stoppage

A toe injury ends Cedric Doumbe's return at PFL Paris.

Cedric Doumbe's highly-anticipated fight at PFL Europe was ended controversially in the third round.

After a competitive two rounds with "Baki" Baysangur Chamsoudinov, the third round started extra-tentatively, much to the dismay of referee Marc Goddard.

Marc Goddard: "You know you can't do that. You can't call a timeout."

Cédric Doumbé: "The second time I didn't say I don't want to fight."

The #PFLParis main event ends in bizarre fashion after Doumbé suffers a toe injury. pic.twitter.com/U6wKhHO6CC

— MMA Junkie (@MMAJunkie) March 7, 2024

When the two Frenchmen refused to fight, Goddard called for action, and Doumbe pointed to his foot. Neither man resumed the action, and when Goddard intervened again, Doumbe pointed to his foot and Goddard immediately waved the fight off.

In his post-fight interview, Doumbe revealed he had a shard of glass in his foot, and it was an injury he somehow sustained during the fight.

"I didn't wanna stop the fight," Doumbe exclaimed in his post-fight interview. ".... I have a small [piece of] glass in my foot --- I [don't know if I got it inside the cage]. .... That's just the referee's fault!"

🥊🇫🇷 À cause d’une écharde plantée dans le pied, Cédric Doumbé a dû interrompre son combat face à Baki, qui l’a remporté par forfait. pic.twitter.com/jCjDX5TLna

— AlertesInfos (@AlertesInfos) March 7, 2024

It remains yet to be seen whether the result will be overturned since Doumbe was victim to a foreign object in the smart cage. Regardless of the fact, both men called for a rematch. In a "bigger stadium and with more money," Chamsoudinov said in his post-fight interview.

Play-by-Play

Round 1

Doumbe baits Baki to throw, but he doesn't bite. Doumbe finally steps in with a kick, but Baki charges in, putting Doumbe on his back. Doumbe impressively works his way back to the feet. A snatch single by Baki and Doumbe is back on the mat --- butterfly hooks and hand control from Doumbe to deny Baki to the ground. Doumbe is back on his feet, gramby rolls to escape but Baki is on him like glue. Baki takes him back down, and Doumbe is being entirely defensive.

Doumbe gets back up but Baki dumps him right back down. One minute left in the first and Doumbe is cage walking. They break, feints from both men now. A big right hand before the final bell for Baki.

Chamsoudinov appears to take the opening frame.

Round 2

Great jab by Doumbe... and again. Baki feints the takedown but Doumbe doesn't bite. Baki dips into a Doumbe jab which puts him on a knee, and the crowd bellows. Doumbe loads up on a hook but it misses, he's no longer throwing kicks which is making it hard for Baki to take the fight to the floor.

Baki dips for Doumbe's hips as the kickboxer wings a wild hook. Doumbe is pinned against the cage, gets underhooks, and breaks free. After some tentative action, Doumbe lands a nice right hand, he's applying the pressure on Baki.

Doumbe might have stolen round two.

Round 3

The deciding round. A flush 3-2 from Doumbe stuns Baki. He does it again, but Baki is switched on with a hook of his own. Doumbe complains about something on the canvas, perhaps his foot?

No action... referee Marc Goddard calls for activity, and Doumbe points to his foot. Goddard waves the fight off!

Baki wins by TKO --- Controversial!

Stick with MMA Knockout for more daily coverage of the UFC and MMA

Follow MMA Knockout on Twitter and Facebook.