Former Bellator tournament champion and Cage Warriors welterweight champion [autotag]Karl Amoussou[/autotag] is back, and he’s determined to make a statement when he returns to the cage.
The French-German fighter enjoyed a spectacular seven-fight, seven-finish win streak between 2015 and 2017 that saw him claim six first-round stoppages and capture the Cage Warriors welterweight title.
But a unanimous decision defeat to Dominique Steele in his first title defense saw Amoussou (24-9-2) handed his first loss since 2014, and his attempt to bounce back into the win column against Rodrigo Cavalheiro at Brave CF 13 seven months later ended in a knockout defeat.
Since then, Amoussou has gone back to the drawing board and rebuilt his team from the ground up. Now, after more than two years away, “Psycho” has signed for ARES FC and is ready to make an impact on his return.
“It’s not really a renaissance,” he told ARES TV following his signing. “I have refocused myself on what’s important, on what makes Karl Amoussou. Who is ‘Psycho?’ There isn’t anything new. It’s who I am deep down that I will showcase at ARES.”
Amoussou was long considered one of the most dangerous 170-pounders in Europe prior to his unexpected two-fight skid. But now the Paris-born 34-year-old says he’s found his mojo again and is ready to bring back the sort of aggression and destructive finishing ability that saw him earn rave reviews on the European scene a few years ago.
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“I was too nice in my last two fights,” he explained. “Certain things made it that it didn’t go as I wanted. My staff was not good. But things are different now. I’ve regained control. I am fortunate enough to be part of Bulgarian Top Team. Guillaume Pelletier is doing an incredible job. He found the right words and put me on the right rails.
“Now I know I am expected (to return), people are wondering what version of me they will see. I can already announce no one will be disappointed. It is going to be the old-school ‘Psycho.’ I know what type of fighter I am. I have 35 fights, I have enough experience – I see it in my sparring. I am taking it to a level I have not seen in a while.”
With renewed focus, a new training team around him and a new promotion in which to showcase his skills, it feels like a new start for Amoussou, who says he’s ready to attack the next chapter of his career with renewed vigor as he looks to return to form and prove the doubters wrong.
“It has been a tough few years,” he admitted. “I have kept quiet, but someone who does not make a lot of noise is dangerous. I am preparing my comeback with focus, without making too much noise or drama or putting stupid stuff on social media, but believe me, I am as hungry and as mean as ever.
“(The fans) can expect violence. I’m not going to sugar-coat it. I’m here to do some nasty stuff. There is no other way to say it. I could try to make it sound nicer, but the truth is I’m coming to do dark things. I’ve got a revenge to satisfy, I have mouths to shut, and I look forward to doing so.”