Karl Amoussou (born November 21, 1985) is a French-German professional mixed martial artist who most recently competed in the Welterweight division of Cage Warriors, where he is the current Welterweight Champion. A professional competitor since 2006, he has also formerly competed for Strikeforce, DREAM, M-1 Global, Pancrase and Bellator MMA.

Karl Amoussou
Born (1985-11-21) November 21, 1985 (age 38)[1]
Draguignan, France
Other namesPsycho
ResidenceÎle-de-France, France
NationalityFrench
German
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
DivisionWelterweight
Middleweight
Reach70 in (178 cm)
Fighting out ofParis, France[1]
TeamTeam Amoussou[2]
Haute Tension
American Top Team
RankBlack belt in Judo
Years active2006–2023
Mixed martial arts record
Total40
Wins27
By knockout8
By submission14
By decision4
By disqualification1
Losses11
By knockout4
By decision7
Draws2
Other information
SpouseAna Amousso
Notable relativesBertrand Amoussou-Guenou, brother
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Background

edit

Amoussou was born in Draguignan, France. His martial arts background is in judo, his older brother Bertrand being a medal-winning judoka for France in the 1990 European Judo Championships as well as the first and only French fighter to win a fight in Pride FC, while Amoussou's Senegalese father was also a successful karate stylist. Before becoming a full-time fighter, Amoussou worked full-time as an undercover agent in his native France, mostly tracking down drug dealers and thieves.[3]

Mixed martial arts career

edit

Amoussou (nicknamed Psycho) is a member of the Team France and Team "Haute Tension". His trainers are one time PRIDE Fighting Championship fighter and older brother Bertrand Amoussou.

Amoussou was set to headline M-1 Global Presents: Breakthrough against top contender Nick Thompson but his opponent was later changed to journeyman John Doyle due to an injury Thompson suffered during training.

Amoussou signed an exclusive four fight contract with top Japanese promotion Dream and North American promotion Strikeforce.[4] He fought in Strikeforce against UFC veteran Trevor Prangley and in Dream against Pride veteran Kazuhiro Nakamura. In April 2011, he defeated Nathan Shouteren via decision after a spectacular fight where he showed his "Psycho" style again.

In November 2010, he went to The Ultimate Fighter selections in Las Vegas, but his weight class was not selected.

Bellator Fighting Championships

edit

Amoussou then signed for Bellator and he made his debut on May 21, 2011 against Sam Alvey at Bellator 45, losing via split decision. He rebounded with a TKO victory over Jesus Martinez at Bellator 59 in November 2011.

Amoussou then took part in the Welterweight Tournament scheduled to take place in Bellator's sixth season. He was expected to fight War Machine in the opening round of the tournament at Bellator 63. However, War Machine was sentenced to a year in prison for an assault in Las Vegas, Nevada and was forced out of the bout and the tournament.[5] Instead, he faced Chris Lozano and won via submission in the first round.

In the semifinals at Bellator 69, Amoussou faced undefeated David Rickels. The bout was back-and-forth with Amoussou on the receiving end of multiple groin shots. In the end, Amoussou won the fight via split decision.

Amoussou faced Bryan Baker on July 20, 2012 in the finals at Bellator 72.[6] He won the fight via submission in just under a minute, earning $100,000 and a title shot. He faced welterweight champion Ben Askren in Bellator's seventh season in the fall of 2012.[7] He then lost by TKO to Askren for the title.

Amoussou next faced promotional newcomer Paul Bradley on October 18, 2013 at Bellator 104.[8] He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Amossou then faced David Gomez on April 18, 2014, at Bellator 117.[9] He won fight via split decision, snapping his two fight losing streak.[10]

Amoussou faced Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 122 on July 25, 2014. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

Post Bellator

edit

Going 10–2 since leaving Bellator, Amoussou face Abdoul Abdouraguimov on June 25, 2022 at Ares FC 7 for the AFC Welterweight Championship. He lost the bout after the doctor stopped the bout after the first round.[11]

Amoussou faced Mickaël Lebout on December 8, 2022 at Ares FC 10, losing the bout via unanimous decision.[12]

Championships and accomplishments

edit

Mixed martial arts record

edit
Professional record breakdown
40 matches 27 wins 11 losses
By knockout 8 4
By submission 14 0
By decision 4 7
By disqualification 1 0
Draws 2
Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
Loss 27–11–2 Mickaël Lebout Decision (unanimous) Ares FC 10 December 8, 2022 3 5:00 Paris, France
Loss 27–10–2 Abdoul Abdouraguimov TKO (doctor stoppage) Ares FC 7 June 25, 2022 1 5:00 Paris, France For the Ares Welterweight Championship.
Win 27–9–2 André Ricardo Submission (achilles lock) Hexagone MMA 2 October 30, 2021 1 4:31 Paris, France Won the HXMMA Welterweight Championship.
Win 26–9–2 Vitoldas Jagelo Disqualification Hexagone MMA 1 July 9, 2021 1 5:00 Paris, France Catchweight (173 lbs) bout.
Win 25–9–2 Zoran Đođ TKO (knees) Soko FC 1 May 29, 2021 1 2:50 Dudelange, Luxembourg Catchweight (181 lbs) bout.
Loss 24–9–2 Rodrigo Cavalheiro KO (punch) Brave CF 13: European Evolution June 9, 2018 2 1:08 Belfast, Northern Ireland
Loss 24–8–2 Dominique Steele Decision (unanimous) Cage Warriors 89 November 25, 2017 3 5:00 Antwerp, Belgium Catchweight (172.9 lbs) bout; Steele missed weight.
Win 24–7–2 Matt Inman TKO (punches) Cage Warriors 80 February 18, 2017 1 3:13 London, England Won the vacant Cage Warriors Welterweight Championship.
Win 23–7–2 Juho Valamaa KO (punch) EuroFC 1 October 1, 2016 1 3:44 Espoo, Finland
Win 22–7–2 Giovanni Melillo TKO (head kick and punches) Venator FC 3 May 21, 2016 1 4:51 Milan, Italy
Win 21–7–2 Hakon Foss Submission (heel hook) Venator FC 2 December 13, 2015 1 0:52 Rimini, Italy
Win 20–7–2 Abdulmazhid Magomedov Submission (armbar) Abu Dhabi Warriors 3 October 3, 2015 1 3:43 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Win 19–7–2 Florent Betorangal Submission (heel hook) World Warriors FC: Cage Encounter 4 September 19, 2015 1 3:03 Paris, France
Win 18–7–2 Felipe Salvador Nsue Ayiugono Submission (armbar) Fightor 1: Lister vs. Knaap January 17, 2015 3 3:26 Charleroi, Belgium
Loss 17–7–2 Fernando Gonzalez Decision (unanimous) Bellator 122 July 25, 2014 3 5:00 Temecula, California, United States
Win 17–6–2 David Gomez Decision (split) Bellator 117 April 18, 2014 3 5:00 Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States
Loss 16–6–2 Paul Bradley Decision (unanimous) Bellator 104 October 18, 2013 3 5:00 Cedar Rapids, Iowa, United States
Loss 16–5–2 Ben Askren TKO (doctor stoppage) Bellator 86 January 24, 2013 3 5:00 Thackerville, Oklahoma, United States For the Bellator Welterweight World Championship.
Win 16–4–2 Bryan Baker Submission (inverted heel hook) Bellator 72 July 20, 2012 1 0:56 Tampa, Florida, United States Bellator Welterweight Tournament Final.
Win 15–4–2 David Rickels Decision (split) Bellator 69 May 18, 2012 3 5:00 Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States Bellator Welterweight Tournament Semifinal.
Win 14–4–2 Chris Lozano Submission (rear-naked choke) Bellator 63 March 30, 2012 1 2:05 Uncasville, Connecticut, United States Bellator Welterweight Tournament Quarterfinal.
Win 13–4–2 Jesus Martinez TKO (punches) Bellator 59 November 26, 2011 1 2:20 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States Catchweight (175 lb) bout.
Loss 12–4–2 Sam Alvey Decision (split) Bellator 45 May 21, 2011 3 5:00 Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States
Win 12–3–2 Nathan Schouteren Decision (split) Pancrase Fighting Championship 3 April 2, 2011 2 5:00 Marseille, France
Loss 11–3–2 Kazuhiro Nakamura Decision (unanimous) Dream 15 July 10, 2010 2 5:00 Saitama, Saitama, Japan
Draw 11–2–2 Trevor Prangley Technical Draw (thumb to eye) Strikeforce Challengers: Kaufman vs. Hashi February 26, 2010 1 4:14 San Jose, California, United States
Win 11–2–1 John Doyle Submission (rear-naked choke) M-1 Global: Breakthrough August 28, 2009 1 3:15 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 10–2–1 Kazuhiro Hamanaka KO (flying knee) M-1 Challenge 14: Japan April 29, 2009 1 0:23 Tokyo, Japan
Win 9–2–1 Grégory Babene Submission (armbar) 100 Percent Fight 1 January 10, 2009 2 3:05 Paris, France
Loss 8–2–1 Lucio Linhares TKO (punches) M-1 Challenge 10: Finland November 26, 2008 1 4:52 Helsinki, Finland
Win 8–1–1 Min Suk-Heo Decision (split) M-1 Challenge 8: USA October 29, 2008 3 5:00 Kansas City, Missouri, United States
Win 7–1–1 Mike Dolce TKO (kick to the body) M-1 Challenge 5: Japan July 17, 2008 2 0:41 Tokyo, Japan
Win 6–1–1 Dmitry Samoilov KO (head kick) M-1: Slamm March 2, 2008 1 0:18 Flevoland, Netherlands
Loss 5–1–1 Arman Gambaryan Decision (unanimous) M-1 MFC: Battle on the Neva July 21, 2007 3 5:00 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Win 5–0–1 Mark O'Toole Submission (rear-naked choke) Cage Warriors: Enter The Rough House 2 April 28, 2007 1 2:38 Nottingham, England
Win 4–0–1 Alexander Yakovlev Submission (armbar) M-1 MFC: International Mix Fight March 17, 2007 1 1:44 Saint Petersburg, Russia
Win 3–0–1 Brian Maulany Submission Kickboxing Gala Free-Fight October 15, 2006 1 N/A Beverwijk, Holland
Win 2–0–1 Lee Chadwick Submission (rear-naked choke) CWFC: Showdown September 16, 2006 1 0:31 Sheffield, England
Win 1–0–1 Colin McKee Submission (triangle choke) 2H2H: Road to Japan June 18, 2006 1 0:35 Amsterdam, Netherlands
Draw 0–0–1 Marcello Salazar Draw Championnat D'Europe May 6, 2006 2 N/A Geneva, Switzerland

[2]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b [1] [dead link]
  2. ^ a b "Karl "Psycho" Amoussou MMA Stats, Pictures, News, Videos, Biography, and More". Sherdog.com. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  3. ^ "Finally a Full-Time Fighter, Bellator's Karl Amoussou Aims High". Mmafighting.com. 2 April 2012. Retrieved 2017-03-05.
  4. ^ "DREAM. Signs M-1 Global fighter Karl Amoussou". M-1Global.com. 2009-10-27. Archived from the original on 2010-08-17. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
  5. ^ "War Machine Headed Back to Prison". 5thround.com. 2012-02-02. Archived from the original on 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  6. ^ "Bellator 72 heads to Tampa July 20 with Amoussou-Baker, Spiritwolf-Zaromskis III". Mmajunkie.com. 2012-06-02. Archived from the original on 2012-06-05.
  7. ^ "Bellator 72 results : Amoussou taps Baker to get shot at welterweight champ Askren". Archived from the original on 2012-07-24..
  8. ^ Tristen Critchfield (September 30, 2013). "Bellator 104 main card feature season 9 welterweight semifinals, UFC vet Kendall Grove". Sherdog.com. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  9. ^ "Karl Amoussou vs. David Gomez completes Friday's Bellator 117 card". Themmareport.com. April 14, 2014.
  10. ^ "Karl "Psycho" Amoussou vs. David Gomez". Tapology.com. April 18, 2014.
  11. ^ Lalanne, Gaspard (2022-06-25). "ARES FC 7 - Abdouraguimov vs. Amoussou : Tous les résultats - Arts Martiaux Mixtes". ActuMMA (in French). Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  12. ^ Samier, Thibault (2022-12-09). "ARES 10 - Mickaël Lebout bat Karl Amoussou à l'issue d'une belle guerre !". La Sueur (in French). Retrieved 2022-12-10.
edit