Youssef Assouik

Early career

Assouik grew up in Copenhagen where he ran into troubles until the age of 15 when he discovered Muay Thai. With a new sense of discipline, he focused on training and became a multiple time Danish amateur champion as well as a Nordic, European and World champion in the Junior categories of the IFMA.^[1] He also is a social worker with the youth of his city.^[2][3]

Assouik turned professional in 2014 training out of the SIAM Athlete Nation gym in Copenhagen.^[4] After a year of competition, he won the WKN Scandinavia K-1 64.4 kg title by stopping Jonas Berglund on October 17, 2015.^[5]

On December 19, 2015, Assouik travelled to Russia to face Aleksei Ulianov for the WKN Oriental rules International 66.7 kg title. He won the fight by doctor stoppage in the first round.^[6]

Assouik made his Glory promotion debut at Glory 29: Copenhagen against Nasim Kazem.^[7] He won the fight by decision.

On August 6, 2016, Assouik suffered his first defeat as a professional when he travelled to Changzhi, China to face Tie Yinghua at Glory of Heroes 4. He lost the bout by unanimous decision.^[8]

For his second fight with the Glory promotion Assouik faced Abdou Karim Chorr at Glory 40: Copenhagen on April 29, 2017. He won the bout by unanimous decision.^[9] Assouik's Glory run came to an end on May 20, 2017, when he faced Tyjani Beztati at Glory: 41 Holland. He lost the fight by unanimous decision.^[10]

World Champion

Assouik was scheduled to face Maikel Garcia for the vacant ISKA K-1 world -72.5 kg belt at Siam Warriors IV in Denmark.^[11] He won the fight by unanimous decision after five rounds to capture his first world title. He successfully defended his title on May 5, 2018, against Jose Bello at Enfusion 66 in Tenerife, winning the fight by unanimous decision.^[12]

Throughout 2018 Assouik took part in the K-1 rules Tatneft Cup in the 70 kg division happening in Kazan, Russia. After winning his first two fights he faced Oleg Likthorovich in the semi-finals on October 27. He won by extension round decision to qualify for the final.^[13] The 2018 Tatneft Cup Finals happened on December 7 and saw Assouik defeat Vladislav Ukrainetshe by extension round decision and win the title.^[14]

Assouik went back to muay thai rules on February 2, 2019, when he faced Valentin Thibaut for the vacant WBC Muay Thai intercontinental 154 lbs title at Siam Warriors V. He lost the fight by doctor stoppage due to a cut from an elbow strike.^[15]

After two years without a fight due to the COVID-19 pandemic Assouik came back to competition now fighting out of his own gym. He defended his K-1 world title on his own promotion called Assouik Fight Night against Karim Guettaf on November 13, 2021. He won the fight by knockout in the first round.^[16] He made a third successful defense of his title when he knocked out Panagiotis Mitsinigkos in the first round with a knee on October 15, 2022.^[17]

On December 10, 2022, Assouik faced Nicolas Mendes at Muay Thai For Life 4.0 in Sweden for the WMC European 168 lbs title. He won the fight by unanimous decision.^[18]

This win allowed him to challenge for the world version of the title he just obtained. On March 18, 2023, in Nice, France he defeated Jimmy Vienot by unanimous decision for the WMC World 160 lbs title, becoming a world champion in muay thai rules as a professional for the first time.^[19]

ONE Championship

Assouik made his promotional debut against Sinsamut Klinmee on October 5, 2024, at ONE Fight Night 25.^[20] He won the fight via unanimous decision.^[21]

Amateur

• International Federation of Muaythai Associations
  • 2011 IFMA World Muaythai Championships Junior -60 kg
  • 2012 IFMA European Muaythai Championships Junior -60 kg
  • 2012 IFMA Nordic Muaythai Championships Junior -60 kg
  • 2012 IFMA World Muaythai Championships Junior -60 kg
  • 2013 IFMA Nordic Muaythai Championships -63,5 kg
  • 2022 IFMA World Muaythai Championships -75 kg ^[22]
  • 2023 IFMA Arab Muaythai Championships -75 kg ^[23]

Professional

• Tatneft Cup
  • 2018 Tatneft Cup -70 kg Champion
• International Sport Karate Association
  • 2016 ISKA European Muay Thai 67 kg Champion
  • 2017 ISKA World K-1 light-middleweight (72.5 kg) Champion
    • Four successful title defenses
• World Kickboxing Network
  • 2015 WKN Scandinavia K-1 64.4 kg Champion
  • 2015 WKN Oriental rules International 66.7 kg Champion
• World Muay Thai Council
  • 2022 WMC European Super Middleweight (168 lbs) Champion
  • 2023 WMC World Middleweight (160 lbs) Champion