Jake Paul is set to face French-Cameroonian star Cedric Doumbe in his Christmas Eve outing.

Paul announced he would make his return in Dubai on December 24, for the first time since breaking his jaw in a clash with Anthony Joshua.

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He was in talks with the likes of Darren Till, who was believed to be in pole position for the clash.

Jake Paul's opponent for December 24 fight confirmed

But it will be power-punching PFL star Doumbe who will be Paul's opponent.

Paul announced the news on his social media, writing: "Guess who’s back. Devinez qui est de retour. #PaulDoumbe."

He later said: “Cédric Douchebag was calling me out two years ago after knocking some dude out in 9 seconds.

"Well Douchebag, now you get your chance. I’m rusty, my jaw is janky and I don’t have kickboxing world titles like you do. But guess what, this isn’t kickboxing mon ami.

"This is BOXING. Just like Usyk feasted on Rico Verhoeven, I am going to eat you for dinner in Dubai on Christmas Eve and have a Coca-Cola at the arena to celebrate. 

"You like to talk a lot, so let’s see what you have to say in person at the press conferences next week in Paris and Dubai. To the proud people of France, excuse-moi for what I am about to do, but your son has been naughty and he’s going to get punished.

"To all the fans in Dubai and all of MENA...we are doing this and we are doing it big, like Dubai always does. I’m baaaaaccccccccck.”

Doumbe then added: "Jake Paul calls himself the Problem Child, but he's never faced a problem like me.

"He has no idea what a Frenchman is capable of, and on Thursday, December 24 in Dubai, I’m going to eat ‘El Poulet’ for dinner. Jake loves to talk, and so do I, but after what Joshua did to his jaw, I'm not sure how much talking he has left.

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"I'm going to finish the job Joshua started. Dubai is a special city to me, and on Christmas Eve, I'll be waving le Tricolore over his unconscious body. France, this one's for you.”

Who is Cedric Doumbe?

Doumbe has a professional MMA record of 6-1, and is signed to the Professsional Fighters League [PFL], a promotion that Paul's MVP stable merged with earlier this year.

The French star shot to notoriety for a 9-second KO in 2023 which left French striker Kylian Mbappe stunned.

But in 2024, his unbeaten record was halted as a splinter in his foot saw him beaten for the first time in his career.

Doumbe's last outing came in December 2024, where he scored another impressive win on the Bellator Champion Series.

He is more commonly known for his superb stint in kickboxing, where he reigned as a two-time GLORY champion.

His accolades and records are fantastic, but he has only had one prior bout in the traditional ranks, a four-round victory over Mohammed Fodil in 2014.

The 34-year-old current welterweight could prove a power-punching issue for Paul, if he is still scarred from the brutal loss to Joshua in December last year.

What does this fight mean for Paul?

Paul, an influencer-turned-boxer was beaten in his challenge up at heavyweight, but still harbours ambitions of fighting all the leading superstars in the sport.

He too has suggested he wants to fight for a world title, but a clash with Doumbe is unlikely to go far for now to boost his ambitions.

The 'Problem Child' has a longer hit-list that involves the likes of Canelo Alvarez, Deontay Wilder and other near-impossible challenges.

But the pay-per-view star is trying to continue to push forward and make himself a name in the sport as a crossover star.

Victory will likely see him have a busy 2027, where talks could be revisited with the likes of previous rival Tommy Fury who is expected to announce his own bout.

As pointed out to talkSPORT, Paul's clash with Doumbe will likely also help him boost the profile of his new-look MMA promotion, with the plan to try and build the next era of crossover stars.