Dean Amasinger returns to the fray in Poland, as the top European fight show KSW invite him back for a second time on February 25th.

Amasinger has inked a deal with the promotion for four fights, and he talks about what's in store for him in 2012 right here.

 

Hi Dean, how’s your 2012 been going so far?

Very well. It’s always good to revaluate things and make a fresh start. I’ll be moving down to lightweight this year so a big change for me.

What prompted the decision to move down to lightweight?

I work as a sport nutritionist with fighters and other athletes. I was doing a lecture on nutrition and I used myself as a case study and realised that if I was working with myself, I would advise me to move to lightweight. I can move down without losing muscle or strength so it makes sense.

The last time we saw you fight was on BAMMA in December, did you take some time off after that fight?

Yeah, leading up to Christmas I had some time off with the family but never strayed too far from the gym. Like I say, I reflected on what I wanted to do and what I needed to change in my training to keep my goals in sight.

You seemed very dominant in that fight but got caught with a move rarely seen inside the Octagon. Was it a hard loss to take?

It was very hard to take. I had a great camp and was feeling confident. I felt new and improved as I’d constantly been evolving as a fighter and getting better. I guess that’s MMA, a break in concentration and I got caught with a great submission. I can only learn from it.

And we hear you’re fighting on KSW, how did that come about?

I’ve fought there before and they’ve been hoping to get me back for a while. They seemed impressed with my last fight despite the loss and appreciated my style. It’s an awesome show to fight on so I spoke to my manager and we signed a four-fight deal with them. The first one is 25th February on KSW 18 at Hala Orlen Arena in Płock against UFC and WEC veteran Maciej Jewtuszko.

Tell us about your opponent?

He’s an experienced guy and a really unorthodox striker. He likes to throw lots of spinning elbows, flying knees and the like. From watching him he also has some solid Jiu jistsu so he’s going to be a dangerous opponent.

How do you feel about fighting abroad compared with the UK?

I like the experience of going to different places but it’s obviously more comfortable fighting in the UK. The food out there is different and it’s knowing where to shop and eat, especially when you’re cutting weight. It’s always good to see another country though. Plus, it’s a really professional show with a great atmosphere so it’s exciting to be part of it.

Is it something you’ll be looking to do more of this year?

I’ve signed a four-fight deal so I’ll be with KSW a fair bit this year. It allows me to fight in the UK so depending on how the fights and training go I may look at a domestic fight this year too.

You mentioned you’ve changed your training but you’ve always been known for your strength, is it natural or do you work hard at it?

It’s a combination of the two. I played a lot of sport when I was younger so was introduced to weights at an early age. I still work hard in the gym but I don’t spend much time on it now. It’s more for maintenance. There are other areas that I need to focus on.

What other elements have you been working hard on recently?

My whole MMA game really, being strong and explosive isn’t a problem. I’ve never come across someone stronger than me in my weight class but there are other areas that I’d like to work on. Working off my back, wrestling, striking, it all needs work.

Kenny Johnson has been over helping Paul so I’ve been training closely with him. It’s invaluable to get one and one with a world-class coach like Kenny. Even though we only do it a few times a year, every time I train with him he takes my game to the next level.

What’s the goal for you this year?

To go 5-0 and continue to improve as a fighter

Anyone you’d like to thank?

My sponsors Fearless Fightwear, Maximuscle, Fitz 4 Sport, Cherry Active, Sweet Sweat UK, Impact LPA, Hooligans United.

 

For more details on KSW 18, head to www.konfrontacja.com and keep up to date via @YourMMA on Twitter and Facebook.
 

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