- Source: Kevin Jousset
Kevin Jousset (born 2 May 1993) is a French professional mixed martial artist, currently competing in the Welterweight division in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). A professional competitor since 2019, Jousset formerly competed for the Hex Fight Series in Australia, where he has been the first simultaneous double Welterweight and Middleweight Champion.
Early life
Kevin Jousset was born on (1993-05-02)2 May 1993 in Bordeaux, France and then quickly moved with his family to Gap where he grew up. Jousset started judo as a child and received his 2nd dan black belt at the age of 14. He pursued his judo career along with other French prospects at the Rennes Academy and Bordeaux France Academy before moving to Paris and joining INEF and INSEP.
Unfortunately, he had to stop his career after a serious shoulder injury and chose to spend one year and a half in Scotland for learning English at the age of 21. Two years later, he moved to Melbourne, Australia in November 2016 where he got a fitness coach diploma and started mixed martial arts.
Mixed martial arts career
= Early years
=Jousset quickly joined Absolute MMA in Melbourne where he met former UFC Featherweight Champion Alexander Volkanovski and elite grappler Craig Jones. He stayed there for four years and prepared his first fights with the team. After a few amateur wins, he made his professional debut in March 2019 at Hex Fight Series 18 and went on to win the bout via knockout with a knee strike in the first round. For his third professional fight, he lost against Jack Della Maddalena on 4 October at Eternal MMA 48 for the EMMA Welterweight Championship after a doctor stoppage at the end of round 2. He then settled down in Auckland, New Zealand in January 2020 and joined City Kickboxing where he made a training camp the previous year.
In 2023, he became the first fighter ever to become a two-division champion in the Australian elite MMA promotion HEX Fight Series after winning the HEX Vacant Middleweight Belt in February and then the HEX Welterweight Belt in May.
= Ultimate Fighting Championship
=In August 2023, Jousset signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) after becoming the first HEX double champion. His City Kickboxing teammate and friend, former two-time UFC Middleweight Champion Israel Adesanya as well as his coach Eugene Bareman recommended to the UFC staff to sign him after Jousset's progress and dominance in training. On 10 September 2023, he made his promotional debut against Irish fighter Kiefer Crosbie at UFC 293 in Sydney, Australia and won by submitting him with a rear-naked choke at the end of round one. Following his fast win, he called out fellow UFC Welterweight Ian Machado Garry in an attempt to continue the theme of defeating Irish fighters.
Jousset faced Song Kenan on 9 December at UFC Fight Night 233. He won the fight via unanimous decision with all three judges scoring 30–27 for the Frenchman. For his third bout in the UFC, he was scheduled to face Jared Gooden on 11 May 2024 at UFC on ESPN 56. However, for medical reasons, Gooden was unable to compete and the bout was cancelled. Since January 2024, Jousset partly trains at Manon Fiorot's team Boxing Squad in Nice when he goes back to France for short or medium stays.
Jousset faced Bryan Battle on 28 September 2024 at UFC Fight Night 243. He lost the fight by technical knockout in the second round.
Championships and accomplishments
= Mixed martial arts
=Hex Fight Series
First ever HEX double champion
HEX Welterweight Championship (One time)
HEX Middleweight Championship (One time)
Mixed martial arts record
= Amateur record
=See also
List of current UFC fighters
List of male mixed martial artists
References
External links
Kevin Jousset at Tapology.com
Kevin Jousset at UFC