# Karl Amoussou

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.

## Background

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.

## Mixed martial arts career

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. 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

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. 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. 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. He then lost by TKO to Askren for the title.
Amoussou next faced promotional newcomer Paul Bradley on October 18, 2013 at Bellator 104. He lost the fight via unanimous decision. Amossou then faced David Gomez on April 18, 2014, at Bellator 117. He won fight via split decision, snapping his two fight losing streak.
Amoussou faced Fernando Gonzalez at Bellator 122 on July 25, 2014. He lost the fight via unanimous decision.

### Post Bellator

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

## Championships and accomplishments

* Bellator Fighting Championships
** Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament Championship
** 2012 Bellator Submission of the Year (against Bryan Baker)

## Mixed martial arts record

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 | 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 FC Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 27–9–2 | André Ricardo | Submission (achilles lock) | Hexagone MMA 2 | October 30, 2021 | 1 | 4:31 | Paris, France | Won the inaugural Hexagone Welterweight Championship. |
| Win | 26–9–2 | Vitoldas Jagelo | DQ (kick after the bell) | Hexagone MMA 1 | July 9, 2021 | 1 | 5:00 | Paris, France | Catchweight (173 lb) bout. |
| Win | 25–9–2 | Zoran Đođ | TKO (knees) | Soko FC 1 | May 29, 2021 | 1 | 2:50 | Dudelange, Luxembourg | Catchweight (181 lb) bout. |
| Loss | 24–9–2 | Rodrigo Cavalheiro Correia | KO (punch) | Brave CF 13 | 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 | Non-title bout; Steele missed weight (172.9 lb). |
| 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 | Catchweight (183 lb) bout. |
| 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 | Won the Bellator Season 6 Welterweight Tournament. |
| Win | 15–4–2 | David Rickels | Decision (split) | Bellator 69 | May 18, 2012 | 3 | 5:00 | Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States | Bellator Season 6 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 | Welterweight debut. Bellator Season 6 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) | Pancrace FC 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, Japan | |
| Draw | 11–2–2 | Trevor Prangley | Technical Draw (accidental 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 | April 29, 2009 | 1 | 0:23 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 9–2–1 | Grégory Babene | Submission (armbar) | 100% Fight 1 | January 10, 2009 | 2 | 3:05 | Paris, France | |
| Loss | 8–2–1 | Lucio Linhares | TKO (punches) | M-1 Challenge 10 | November 26, 2008 | 1 | 4:52 | Helsinki, Finland | |
| Win | 8–1–1 | Min Seok-heo | Decision (split) | M-1 Challenge 8 | 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 | July 17, 2008 | 2 | 0:41 | Tokyo, Japan | |
| Win | 6–1–1 | Dmitry Samoilov | KO (head kick) | M-1 Challenge 1 | March 2, 2008 | 1 | 0:18 | Almere, Netherlands | |
| Loss | 5–1–1 | Arman Gambaryan | Decision (unanimous) | M-1: Battle on the Neva 1 | July 21, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | Light Heavyweight bout. |
| Win | 5–0–1 | Mark O'Toole | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Warriors 27 | April 28, 2007 | 1 | 2:38 | Nottingham, England | |
| Win | 4–0–1 | Alexander Yakovlev | Submission (armbar) | M-1: International Fight Night 8 | March 17, 2007 | 1 | 1:44 | Saint Petersburg, Russia | |
| Win | 3–0–1 | Brian Maulany | Submission | Rings Holland: Beverwijk Top Team 2006 | October 15, 2006 | 1 | N/A | Beverwijk, Holland | |
| Win | 2–0–1 | Lee Chadwick | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Cage Warriors 24 | September 16, 2006 | 1 | 0:31 | Sheffield, England | Middleweight debut. |
| Win | 1–0–1 | Colin McKee | Submission (triangle choke) | 2 Hot 2 Handle: Road to Japan | June 18, 2006 | 1 | 0:35 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | |
| Draw | 0–0–1 | Marcello Salazar | Draw | World Kickboxing Network: Championnat D'Europe | May 6, 2006 | 2 | N/A | Geneva, Switzerland | Light Heavyweight debut. |