Alistair Overeem vs. Jimi Manuwa Added to Jake Paul vs. Cédric Doumbé Christmas Eve Card in Dubai

Former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and K-1 World Grand Prix winner Alistair Overeem to face UFC knockout artist Jimi Manuwa in six-round heavyweight boxing showdown on Thursday, December 24, at Coca-Cola Arena

DUBAI, UAE, November 12, 2026. Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) today announced the addition of two of Europe’s most recognizable combat sports knockout artists to its blockbuster Christmas Eve event in Dubai, as Dutch powerhouse and former Strikeforce heavyweight champion and K-1 World Grand Prix winner Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem (47-19, 25 KOs, 17 submissions in MMA) will make his professional boxing debut against British knockout artist and former UFC light heavyweight contender Jimi “Poster Boy” Manuwa (1-0, 1 KO in boxing; 17-6, 15 KOs, 1 submission in MMA) in a six-round professional heavyweight boxing bout on Thursday, December 24, at Coca-Cola Arena. The matchup was unveiled during today’s Dubai press conference and adds another high-profile international showdown to the card headlined by global superstar Jake Paul against French combat sports icon and multi-time kickboxing world champion Cédric Doumbé. The event marks Paul’s first professional boxing appearance in Dubai as MVP continues its global expansion, bringing together some of the biggest names in combat sports for a Christmas Eve spectacle in one of the world’s premier entertainment destinations.

Netherland’s Alistair Overeem and the United Kingdom’s Jimi Manuwa are two of the most recognizable names in combat sports, with decades of experience competing against the best in the world and a combined 40 knockouts in MMA. Alistair is one of the most decorated heavyweights in history, and Jimi has built his career on delivering spectacular knockouts. Bringing these two legends together in a professional boxing match adds another compelling matchup to an already massive Christmas Eve event. With Jake Paul facing Cédric Doumbé in the main event, we’re assembling a card that brings together some of the biggest personalities and most dangerous strikers in combat sports for fans in Dubai and around the world.

Nakisa Bidarian, CEO of Most Valuable Promotions

Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem

Alistair “The Demolition Man” Overeem is one of the most accomplished and decorated heavyweight fighters in combat sports history, having captured championship titles across MMA and kickboxing during a legendary career spanning more than two decades. The Dutch powerhouse is a former Strikeforce heavyweight champion, interim DREAM heavyweight champion, and winner of the prestigious 2010 K-1 World Grand Prix, becoming the only fighter in history to simultaneously hold titles across all three organizations. Overeem compiled a 47-19 professional MMA record (1 no contest), including 42 stoppage victories, and competed against the sport’s biggest names across PRIDE, Strikeforce, DREAM, and the UFC. His career includes signature victories over Brock Lesnar, Junior dos Santos, Fabricio Werdum, and Andrei Arlovski, as well as a challenge for the UFC heavyweight championship against Stipe Miocic in 2016. Now based in Dubai, the 46-year-old last competed in GLORY kickboxing in October 2022 and will make his professional boxing debut on December 24, bringing his world-class striking pedigree and devastating knockout power to the boxing ring.

I’ve fought the best in the world, and I’ve been a world champion in multiple disciplines. Now I’m starting a new chapter in boxing, and I’m not here to make up the numbers. Jimi Manuwa is a dangerous man with serious knockout power, but I’ve built my career on taking the toughest challenges in combat sports. I grew up in the Netherlands, but Dubai is my home now, and on Christmas Eve I’m bringing the Demolition Man to Coca-Cola Arena. Jimi had better be ready, because I’m coming to put on a show. Once I stop Jimi, Rico Verhoeven is next on my hit list.

Alistair Overeem

Jimi “Poster Boy” Manuwa

Jimi “Poster Boy” Manuwa is a British knockout artist and former UFC light heavyweight contender known for his explosive punching power and aggressive fighting style. After beginning his professional MMA career in 2008, Manuwa captured the UCMMA light heavyweight championship and won his first 14 professional fights before establishing himself among the UFC’s most dangerous strikers. He retired from MMA in 2019 with a 17-6 record, with 15 of his 17 victories coming by knockout or technical knockout, an impressive 88% knockout rate. His career highlights include a spectacular first-round knockout of Corey Anderson in the main event of UFC Fight Night London in 2017, along with notable victories over Ovince Saint Preux and future UFC light heavyweight champion Jan Błachowicz. The 46-year-old returned to competition in August 2026, making a successful professional boxing debut with a second-round TKO victory over former UFC heavyweight Chase Sherman on August 29 at the Kia Center in Orlando, Florida. Now 1-0 as a professional boxer, Manuwa will look to continue his undefeated start in the sport when he faces Overeem in Dubai.

London is in everything I do. Where I come from, pressure makes you, and it makes me. I’ve watched Alistair since I was coming up, and I know exactly what he’s capable of. That’s why I wanted this fight. After my win in Orlando, I wasn’t looking for an easy opponent. On Christmas Eve, one of us is going to sleep, and it’s not going to be me.

Jimi Manuwa

Christmas Eve in Dubai

The event is presented in partnership with the Dubai Sports Council and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as part of a broader cooperation agreement with MVP, further cementing Dubai’s position as a premier destination for world-class sporting events and a growing global hub for combat sports. Paul vs. Doumbé is sponsored by FanDuel and Fansly.

Paul vs. Doumbé tickets will go on sale Sunday, November 15 at 12pm GST/9am CET HERE. Fans can register for presale access HERE and will have the opportunity to purchase tickets beginning Saturday, November 14 at 12 pm GST/9am CET.

For more information, follow on X via @MostVPromotions, or on Instagram via @MostValuablePromotions.

About Most Valuable Promotions

Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) is a global combat sports and entertainment company built for the next generation of athletes and fans. The company operates across boxing, mixed martial arts, live events, media, content, athlete development, and global distribution, with a fighter-first philosophy centered on equitable compensation, maximum visibility, and long-term brand building.

Led by Nakisa Bidarian and Jake Paul, MVP promotes some of the world’s biggest combat sports events and represents a roster of nearly 400 elite athletes, including world champions, titleholders, contenders, and emerging stars. MVP’s portfolio includes MVP, MVPW, and MVP MMA, bringing together premier boxing and mixed martial arts properties under one global brand.

Through partnerships with leading media and distribution platforms including Netflix, ESPN, Sky Sports, and an extensive international network reaching fans across more than 170 countries, MVP delivers world-class competition and entertainment to audiences worldwide. By combining elite athletes, premium live events, compelling storytelling, and global media reach, MVP is building the future of combat sports.

About Coca-Cola Arena

Opened in June 2019, Coca-Cola Arena has revolutionized the live entertainment industry in the UAE and throughout the Middle East. With a 17,000-seat capacity and unique automated seating design, the arena is equipped to host a diverse range of events all year round, establishing Dubai as a major destination on the global events circuit.

The award-winning arena is the premier venue for sporting tournaments, international concerts, comedy shows, live theatre, corporate gatherings, exhibitions and conferences, gala dinners and the official home of Dubai Basketball, the city’s first professional sports franchise team competing in European league competitions.

Located in the heart of City Walk, Coca-Cola Arena is just 15 minutes from Dubai International Airport and a 5-minute walk from the nearest Metro station. The Dubai landmark is an asset of the Dubai Holding Entertainment portfolio and is managed by Legends Global, the world’s leading venue management company.

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