Kylian Mbappe’s favourite fighter begins search for new opponent after ‘hit and run’ incident leaves rival with sickening injury

Derek Anderson was forced to withdraw from the biggest fight of his life just hours after it was announced.

On Monday, it was revealed that the 17-4 MMA veteran would face French superstar and former kickboxing world champion Cédric Doumbe at Bellator Paris on May 17.

Just hours after sharing a fight poster online, Anderson returned to social media with a grim update on his health and the status of his upcoming fight.

The 34-year-old posted a photo of his foot, which was bent the wrong way and had an extremely deep cut on his heel, after a hit-and-run.

Anderson added the caption: “I love you all. Hit and run. I’m really sorry I couldn’t organize this fight. You have no idea. I won’t have another bike.

The PFL has yet to announce who will replace Anderson, but they will surely find someone to step in against Doumbe in the French capital next month.

The 31-year-old was widely considered the best kickboxer on the planet before switching to MMA in 2021 and quickly establishing a perfect 5-0 record.

In October, he made his PFL debut ahead of football icon Kylian Mbappe and Paris Saint-Germain teammates Achraf Hakimi and Ousmane Dembele.

Mbappe was filmed with his mouth wide open after Doumbe brutally knocked out Jordan Zebo in just nine seconds.

“The first fight was crazy,” the MMA star told talkSPORT’s Gareth A. Davies ahead of PFL Europe 4 in Dublin last December.

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“It was my dream. I couldn’t have expected a better debut in PFL. Nine seconds, and then I knock him out in front of Kylian Mbappé (and) the whole PSG team.

“(Mbappe) called me and told me he couldn’t wait for the next one. He really wants to see another fight in the PFL.

Doumbe’s last fight against Baysangur ‘Baki’ Chamsoudinov came to a bizarre end as referee Marc Goddard waved off the third round as Mbappe’s favorite fighter appeared injured.

It was later revealed that he had a piece of glass stuck in his foot.

Doumbe technically suffered his first MMA loss, but that didn’t stop the PFL from locking him into a new multi-fight, multi-year deal before May 17.

With Anderson out, the search for a replacement opponent begins.