Karl Amoussou Record, stats and next fight

Analysis

Karl Amoussou has built one of the most decorated careers in French welterweight MMA over some fifteen years. Having fought in Strikeforce, Dream and Bellator before dominating the European scene, he holds a record of 27 wins, 11 losses and 2 draws, with fourteen submissions to his name.

Background

Born on November 21, 1985 in Draguignan, Karl Amoussou grew up in a family of combat athletes. His older brother Bertrand Amoussou, a multiple-time ju-jitsu fighting world champion, introduced him to martial arts and guided his early steps. A black belt in judo, he trains under Jean-Marie Merchet at the Haute Tension club, rounding out his preparation at American Top Team for his biggest fights.

His professional debut was marked by a string of quick wins, several in under 35 seconds. He then signed with M-1 Global, where he landed a high-kick stoppage over Dimitri Samoilov, before a stint in Strikeforce that ended in a draw against Trevor Prangley after an eye poke. A points loss to Kazuhiro Nakamura in Dream ended that run. An attempt to make The Ultimate Fighter cast in Las Vegas did not lead to a contract.

Career in Bellator and European Leagues

Bellator MMA signed him and he made a quick impact, including a submission in under a minute over Bryan Baker at Bellator 72, which earned him a title fight. In January 2013, he faced welterweight champion Ben Askren and lost by medical stoppage in the third round, the same year he became the first French fighter sponsored by a major equipment brand.

After Bellator, Amoussou collected titles across the European scene: Cage Warriors welterweight champion in 2017, then Hexagone MMA world champion in the division in 2021. He then joined ARES Fighting Championship, where he lost by medical stoppage to Abdoul Abdouraguimov at ARES FC 7 in June 2022, then by unanimous decision in December 2022 at ARES FC 10. Those two fights remain his latest documented appearances in the cage.

Fighting Style

Amoussou’s style is built on constant pressure and a willingness to take risks from the opening bell. His judo base and submission skills account for the high share of wins coming on the ground, fourteen of twenty-seven, well ahead of his eight by KO or TKO. This explosive approach, which brought him several quick finishes early in his career, comes paired with an acknowledged vulnerability to the sharpest strikers, behind several of his clearest losses. His longevity against several generations of opponents, from Ben Askren to Cédric Doumbé on today’s French scene, reflects his sustained commitment to the sport.

Record

• Professional record: 27 wins, 11 losses, 2 draws
• Wins by submission: 14
• Wins by KO or TKO: 8
• Wins by decision or disqualification: 5
• Bellator welterweight tournament champion (season 6, 2012)
• Cage Warriors welterweight champion (2017)
• Hexagone MMA welterweight world champion (2021)
• Bellator 2012 Submission of the Year

Fighter Profile

• Full name: Karl Amoussou
• Nickname: Psycho
• Born: November 21, 1985 in Draguignan, France
• Nationality: French-German
• Height: 5’11” (180 cm)
• Division: welterweight
• Team: Haute Tension, American Top Team
• Coach: Jean-Marie Merchet
• Base: judo (black belt) and submissions

Sources

• fr.wikipedia.org
• en.wikipedia.org
• www.sherdog.com