CHAPTERS
- 0:02 – 1:21
First UFC event experience & why French MMA felt “boring”
Joe welcomes Cedric and they start with his first in-person UFC experience. Cedric explains how France’s former MMA restrictions (especially limited ground strikes) shaped his view of domestic MMA events.
- •Cedric’s first time attending a UFC event—and even an MMA event overall
- •France’s historical restrictions: no (or limited) ground striking
- •How rules change the excitement level and pacing of fights
- •Cedric’s reaction to UFC 241 and standout bouts
- 1:21 – 2:36
From Glory dominance to a clear UFC goal
Cedric lays out his intent to transition from kickboxing to MMA—not as a possibility, but as a plan. He frames it as the next challenge after achieving his first dream: becoming the best in kickboxing.
- •Cedric’s status as Glory champion and his belt count
- •Beating Nieky Holzken as a career-defining milestone
- •Why he originally disliked MMA (wrestling/BJJ) and what changed
- •Desire to be elite in two different combat sports
- 2:36 – 4:11
Falling in love with jiu-jitsu—and the ambition to do what McGregor couldn’t
Cedric describes how MMA training and watching grappling made him appreciate the complexity of jiu-jitsu. He then ties his motivation to becoming a champion in kickboxing and MMA, contrasting it with Conor’s boxing crossover attempt.
- •MMA training as the “hook” that changed his perspective
- •Jiu-jitsu complexity beyond the stereotype of ‘rolling around’
- •Motivation: multi-sport greatness rather than popularity chasing
- •Confidence he can reach the top in MMA too
- 4:11 – 6:05
Style evolution: from ‘runner’ to finisher
Joe brings up Cedric’s shift from movement-heavy point fighting to more damaging, knockout-oriented performances. Cedric explains how fighting Holzken early in his Glory run influenced his strategy and public perception.
- •Holzken calling Cedric a ‘mover/runner’—and Cedric owning it
- •Early Glory strategy: win rounds, score, entertain, manage risk
- •Training to go five rounds instead of hunting early KOs
- •How a single loss and improved professionalism changed outcomes
- 6:05 – 11:22
Weight cuts, diet discipline, and the ‘Golden Coach’ turnaround
Cedric details past weight-cut mistakes—crash dieting and dehydration days before fights—and how that hurt performance. He credits a structured nutrition plan (and a well-known French nutrition coach) for improving energy and enabling more stoppages.
- •Old approach: procrastinating diet until fight week, extreme dehydration
- •Why even champions can make amateur weight-cut choices
- •Working with ‘Cecile / Golden Coach’ and following a written meal plan
- •Food preferences vs. fight shape (African food vs. Japanese/Korean)
- •Big transformation: losing significant weight in a short window safely
- 11:22 – 13:19
Why kickboxing thrives in Europe but lags in the U.S.
They compare combat-sports popularity across regions and discuss what audiences find appealing. Cedric argues MMA is simpler to understand for casual fans and benefits from the cage, small gloves, and a ‘KO or nothing’ expectation.
- •Kickboxing’s strong European base (Holland/France) vs. U.S. market reality
- •MMA as ‘easier’ for non-experts to follow than scoring-based striking
- •Cage + small gloves + visible damage as fan magnets
- •Debate: best striking exists in kickboxing/Muay Thai, yet MMA draws more attention
- 13:19 – 15:37
France legalizing full MMA & the ‘stepping stone’ dilemma
Cedric predicts full MMA legalization in France and expects the UFC to arrive soon. Joe raises the concern that elite kickboxers moving to MMA could make kickboxing feel secondary; Cedric responds with how strikers can adapt if they master wrestling fundamentals.
- •Expectation of full-rule MMA legalization in France (including ground strikes)
- •UFC in Paris as a likely next step
- •Whether kickboxing becomes a ‘feeder’ sport for MMA
- •Key adaptation needs: takedown defense and wrestling competence
- •Kickboxing vs. Muay Thai movement differences and MMA translation
- 15:37 – 17:00
Building the grappling base: luta livre, Paris training, and AKA reality checks
Cedric explains his grappling training style in France and how it differs from typical BJJ class structure. He then describes training at American Kickboxing Academy, where he’s elite on the feet but taps frequently on the ground—while learning quickly.
- •No-gi grappling starting from the feet; comparison to BJJ and wrestling
- •Luta livre background and terminology
- •Why many BJJ gyms start on knees for safety/space
- •AKA’s wrestling-heavy environment as the right challenge
- •Cedric’s candid assessment: ‘I tap every day’—and rapid learning curve
- 17:00 – 25:53
Timeline to the UFC: dream matchups and ‘shock the world’ entry
Cedric lays out a one-year preparation window while finishing his Glory contract, then an immediate UFC push. He names high-profile opponents like Nate Diaz or Anthony Pettis as a statement debut, aiming for maximum impact and credibility.
- •Contract runway: ~1–1.5 years while preparing for MMA
- •Goal: straight into a top-five or major-name UFC fight
- •Reasoning: prove kickboxers can beat elite MMA names immediately
- •UFC not yet contacted—expectation this appearance changes that
- •AKA training trips and meeting the camp’s top coaches/fighters
- 25:53 – 33:53
A unique approach: conditioning-first, no kickboxing coach, and DIY camps
Cedric explains that conditioning used to be his weakness because he often finished fights early. He now trains strength and conditioning daily in camp, reveals he effectively coaches himself for kickboxing, and details his path through Holland/Belgium to find high-level mentorship.
- •Conditioning as the decisive separator at elite levels
- •Daily S&C focus with his trainer (Valentino) during camp
- •Surprising confession: no dedicated kickboxing head coach
- •Development path: Bordeaux → Amsterdam (Mejiro) → Brussels (Queensberry)
- •Why he left Brussels full-time but keeps key mentor support in his corner
- 33:53 – 43:25
Comedy, acting aspirations, and the personal origin story
The conversation shifts to Cedric’s creative side—stand-up comedy and acting—plus how kickboxing ‘found’ him after soccer. He shares how his mother initially opposed fighting, how he trained in secret, and how his family’s hardship fuels his mindset.
- •Cedric’s early stand-up/comedy club experience (Bordeaux)
- •Acting as his ‘first dream’ and recent short film work
- •How he discovered full-contact/kickboxing after playing soccer
- •Training secretly due to his mother’s fears—eventual support and pride
- •Immigration and hardship story (Cameroon → Paris) as mental fuel
- 43:25 – 1:22:45
Fight talk & industry detours: Nabiev KO breakdown, legends, and crossover debates
They revisit Cedric’s knockout of Alim Nabiev and discuss how he sets traps and peaks in round two. The back half branches into kickboxing icons (Holzken, Rico, Badr Hari), Conor McGregor controversies, and why boxers struggle under kickboxing rules (e.g., Masato vs. Vince Phillips).
- •Nabiev as an elite opponent; Cedric’s setup and finishing sequence
- •Round-two philosophy: ‘first is warm-up, second is danger’
- •Glory landscape: rematches, contenders, and heavyweight stars (Rico/Badr Hari)
- •McGregor’s public troubles and the realities of rematches (Khabib/Nate)
- •Why leg kicks change everything in boxer-vs-kickboxer matchups
