Former UFC welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck (15-5) may be on the move to a new weight class.
The former NCAA wrestling champion Tweeted on Thursday, “I did ask for my next fight to be nov 19 in san jose at 185.” UFC 138 will take place on November 19th at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California.
Koscheck has been out of action since he underwent corrective surgery to repair a broken orbital suffered in his UFC 124 loss to Georges St. Pierre. Koscheck has not fought at middleweight since defeating Chris Sanford in his UFC debut after appearing on The Ultimate Fighter. He has amassed a 13-5 record in UFC competition with notable wins over Paul Daley, Anthony Johnson, and Diego Sanchez.
Koscheck is one of three American Kickboxing Academy fighters currently in the welterweight division. Jon Fitch is expected to face B.J. Penn at 138, while Mike Swick will be making his long-awaited return against Erick Silva at UFC 134.
Koscheck’s teammate Cain Velasquez is expected to defend his heavyweight title against Junior dos Santos in the main event of UFC 138.
Stay tuned to MMAFrenzy.com for the latest UFC 138 news and UFC 138 rumors.
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I think this is good move as far as kos is concerned. I mean i think he has no where else to go really in welterweight div.
While I agree he had nowhere to go in the WW division, it’s not really getting any easier at 185. For example, I can’t see someone with Koscheck’s skillset getting passed say, Chael Sonnen. And Koscheck would be steam-rolled by Anderson. If he stands in front of Silva the way he planted himself in front of GSP, then it would end up being another Belfort-like KO.
I saw kos mention on twitter he wanted “just one mw fight. something fun for the fans” so i’m assuming he’s just testing the waters and not really planning on staying at 185.
I really can’t think of a suitable opponent for him at 185 both skillset wise and “name” wise. Koscheck is a “name” in the sport so it would be kind of a waste to have him fight a lesser known fighter. Atleast when $$$ is concerned.
Here’s an idea. Fight Condit.
What would be the point? Regardless of the outcome of Kos vs. Condit, he would still be in the chase for a belt held by the man who just broke his face.
put him up against munoz
you cant because munoz is to high on the rankings i would say and lets say kos beats him where dose that put Munoz and how could Kos go back down after beating a high level middle weight that would put him in title contention at middle weight.
This is a good move for Kos. I think he does have the skillset to face Chael Sonnen. I don’t know why so many people are annointing Chael as some mythical mma fighter who is what, 3-2 in the UFC in his second stint. I don’t care for the stylistic oh he was so close or dominated before being submitted arguments. Kos has good standup and great wrestling. There are far more intriguing matchups for him at 185. I think he is close to becoming a Rich Franklin where he can’t compete for championships in his current weight close so he’s switching.
Chris. Leben.
I was just about to say that!
CHRIS LEBEN! PLEASE!
This is the rematch I have been waiting for!
But yeah, Josh Koscheck vs. Chirs Leben sound pretty good to me and then now that Brian Stann is fighting Chael Sonnen, I’d like to see them four go winner vs. winner and loser vs. loser…
Yes?
Forget 185. Go all the way up to 205 an give the American Psycho what he wants.
it would not be shocking if bonnar dropped to 185 to fight koscheck especially since kos is currently sueing bonnar and he called kos out on mma live haha that would be a fun fight. kos and leben would make sense as well
Why is he sueing?
So, with being obviously the smaller guy at MW, do you think we ultimately rely on his speed then?
Munoz, Leben, or even Wanderlei :P
There are multiple reasons for this… Kos is 0-2 vs GSP and realizes he is not going to lose anytime soon – and if he were to lose, it could be to his teammate Fitch – and he won’t fight fitch… and that fight would have to happen regardless as a championship fight or #1 contender – so that is a main reason for the move I am sure.
Kos right now could beat Bonnar… no matter the weight… the fact Bonnar is still fighting is beyond me…at least in the UFC…
Kos could beat Sonnen – would beat Leben again – I’d like to see Kos fight Okami or Belfort (someday) but for November – Leben makes sense, so does Maia or even Aaron Simpson… I say give him a semi warm up fight before throwing him in vs the top 10 middleweights… so Aaron Simpson makes most sense since he is coming off a win…
I don’t know about this move for Kos. Personally I don’t think it brings him closer to a title with bigger stronger guys like Stann, Belfort and Silva to deal with. At 170 Kos is a top 5 guy and IMO he needs to fight to stay there while waiting for GSP to beat Diaz and eventually leave the division. Once GSP leaves though the division suddenly becomes wide open, where Kos has the best opportunity to be a title holder. I would love to see him still fight guys like Shields, Hardy, Penn, Story and Diaz. Currently I think he needs to fight a guy like Hardy, Story, or a rematch with Alves to stay active and hold his position as a top guy at 170. Hopefully GSP beats Diaz and moves up just for the division to be exciting again.
Give em Maia
This really isn’t that surprising.
Its been rumored for awhile, Koscheck has accomplished all he can at 170, and many still consider 185 the UFC’s weakest weightclass.
Koscheck has a ready-made “fun” fight for him with Chris Leben, although that seems fairly pointless.
Ideally Koscheck would retain all/most of his speed, athleticism, cardio, and punching power at 185. If thats the case, coupled with his training with a top-shelf camp, Koscheck could find himself very quickly “in the mix” at 185 with a couple of wins.
And quite honestly I’d rather take my Octagonal chances with Anderson Silva than GSP.
Koscheck has a strong wrestling base, and after 117 he HAD to be thinking that maybe A Silva can be taken by a wrestler who can go for the full 25 minutes, and not just 23.
And I realize that Chael Sonnen has his fans, but I’m not so sure that a properly prepared and trained Koscheck couldn’t “get past” Chael Sonnen.
In theory Koscheck is quicker and more athletic, and trains with a better camp.
Maybe thats something Koscheck and AKA are looking at down the road, assuming Koscheck’s 185 deal pans out…
It was move up, or fight Condit, so he moves up…
Not sure how “pointless” a match with Crippler is exactly, considering the big win he just had. Leben/Koscheck would sell AND advance the victor. I mean, why not…?
And let’s see Koscheck hang with the division first before we annoint him Spider’s next challenger, shall we?
Koscheck-Leben is only relevent if Koscheck is planning on staying at 185.
Otherwise its a show fight signed primarily for promotional value.
Plus hasn’t Koscheck already beaten Leben?
;-)
I personally don’t need to see Leben set on his a$$ and kept on the mat for another 15 minutes, which is exactly what Koscheck does to strikers who p!ss him off.
Koscheck as a 185 contender…premature?
Maybe so, but how many MMA observers considered Nate Marquardt to be an instant welterweight contender as soon as he dropped to 170 [sort of]?
And when Rashad Evans was rumored to be considering a drop to 185, there were many who claimed he would immediately find himself “in the mix”, and the same was once said of Stephan Bonnar until he announced he was staying at 205 because he “drank too damned much to make 185″.
There are fighters, albeit not many and discounting BJ Penn and Randy Couture, who thrive in multiple weightclasses.
Just recently Urijah Faber has fought for Zuffa gold at 2 different weightclasses and IMO caught a bad decision at 132.
I understand a “wait and see” attitude, but I’m fine taking a flyer on Koscheck at 185.
That weightclass has several strikers that Koscheck, again assuming he’s as/nearly as effective at 185 as he is at 170, will theoretically beat with his ground game and speed.
Most likely this Koscheck 185 thing is just to get a winnable fight in his adopted AKA hometown.
But if it isn’t…the 185 weightclass might have someone else to worry about…
Lets see him go up enough and Bonner come down enough he could make a new t-shirt of the shit kicking he would give Koscheck.
as much as i dont care for this mofo. i will say i respect the move up in weight. not saying he will fair well there but i like to see fighters test them selves by stepping up in weight. i wish more fightes would do the same. a la pacquiao.