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StumbleUFC 106:
If no title shot, Josh Koscheck wants another fight soon
Unable to move past Dan Hardy, Koscheck wants another opportunity to prove himself
Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Josh Koscheck reacts to the crowd after choking out Anthony Johnson during UFC 106 Saturday, November 21, 2009 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 | 3:36 a.m.
Koscheck vs Johnson
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del.icio.usIn the co-main event of UFC 106, Josh Koscheck tried to prove that he is worthy of welterweight top status after choking out Anthony Johnson Saturday night.
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UFC 106: Tito's back but Forrest wins
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Las Vegas Sun boxing/MMA writer Brett Okamoto talks with fellow sports writer Ryan Greene and videographer Christine Killimayer about what they thought of the fights at UFC 106 at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday.
UFC 106
- Complete Coverage: UFC 106
- UFC 106 predictions
- Breaking down UFC 106: Tito Ortiz v. Forrest Griffin
- Video: UFC 106 pre-fight press conference
- Forrest Griffin: Life's good, I'm very happy with life in general
- Tito Ortiz ready to return to where he belongs
- Unlike last fight, Anthony Johnson should have no weight problem
- Josh Koscheck ready and willing for showdown with Johnson
- Amir Sadollah, Phil Baroni in similar situations leading up to fight
Following his highlight-reel finish of Anthony Johnson by a second-round submission, Josh Koscheck got on the microphone and argued he should be next to receive the next title shot at welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
Problem: The UFC had already announced that Dan Hardy would be the next challenge to St. Pierre’s throne.
Can’t blame a guy for trying.
“I had thought about doing it before I got out there,” said Koscheck, on his decision to call out Hardy who was sitting ringside. “But obviously the UFC has plans for him to fight St. Pierre and I’m not concerned with that.
“A title shot for me isn’t going to happen so I’m just going to keep fighting.”
Hardy was less than cordial in his responses to Koscheck’s outburst. Hardy dismissed the fighter as being inconsistent and made crying gestures towards the Octagon while he plead his case.
“The thing about Josh Koscheck is that he’s got a lot of potential but he’s inconsistent,” Hardy said. “He’s kind of like a (expletive) that won’t flush away. He’ll lose a fight and then come back. I guess I don’t mind, I never get sick of seeing that guy get punched in the face.”
Hardy, who has never been known to back down from a bit of trash-talk, was likely just defending what’s his — a title shot that he earned by defeating all four opponents he’s faced in the UFC.
While the Brit’s description of Koscheck was maybe a little harsh, he may have a point.
Prior to Saturday, Koscheck had lost two of his last four fights and has already lost to St. Pierre once in his career.
Koscheck actually is quick to admit this and says that his current focus is improving his striking skills while fighting as much as the UFC will allow him.
“Right now, I’m concerned with getting back into the gym and improving,” Koscheck said. “If I’m not fighting St. Pierre, then let’s line them up. I already told (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva I want 10-to-12 fights next year.
“I’d rather be out there entertaining than in the gym. Hopefully I can get on a five or six-fight win streak and they’ll think I’m ready for the title.”
With the kind of night Koscheck had on Saturday, it’s no wonder he’s ready to fight as much as possible.
Despite an unfortunate three breaks in the action due to inadvertent eye pokes, Koscheck’s fight with Johnson earned him $70,000 bonuses each with Fight of the Night and Submission of the Night honors.
UFC president Dana White, who has clashed with Koscheck on matters outside of the Octagon before, said he was most impressed with Koscheck’s willingness to continue fighting and push the tempo after getting poked in the eye the first time.
“There was clearly an eye poke. After Johnson threw the illegal knee you could see on the replay the knee missed but Johnson’s pinkie went into his eye,” White said. “When the doctor came out to look, Koscheck could barely keep his eye open but he said, ‘I want to fight.’
“He got his eye to where he could continue and as soon as the fight started, he went after it and started dominating the round.”
According to Koscheck, there are only about two or three welterweights that stand a decent chance at taking St. Pierre’s belt.
Although Koscheck admitted to liking to Hardy’s style of fighting and energetic approach, he didn’t include the Brit’s name as a likely threat to knock off the champion.
After watching Saturday’s fight, Hardy said that maybe it wasn’t a bad thing that Koscheck called for him.
It might just be a little bit too soon.
“Hopefully I’ll get to fight Koscheck in the future,” he said. “And it will be a title defense when I’m doing it.”
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or brett.okamoto@lasvegassun.com.
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| Date | Event | Headlining Match | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 3 | Boxing: ESPN2 Friday Night Fights | Edison Miranda vs. Isaac Chilemba | Las Vegas: Texas Station's Dallas Events Center |
| February 4 | UFC 143 | Nick Diaz vs. Carlos Condit | Las Vegas: Mandalay Bay Events Center |
| February 15 | UFC on FUEL TV 1 | Diego Sanchez vs. Jake Ellenberger | Omaha, Neb. |
| February 16 | SCC 4 | Kendall Grove vs. Jay Silva | Las Vegas: Orleans Arena |
| February 25 | UFC 144 | Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson | Saitama, Japan |
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As I said before, I love this guy Josh Koscheck. He is ABSOLUTELY CORRECT< HE DESERVES THE TITLE SHOT AGAINST GSP> His fight last night was absolutely fantastic. His opponent Johnson cut over 30 lbs and entered the ring last night around 203 lbs. Koscheck entered the ring around 178 lbs...once Koscheck felt the power from Johnson's punches and saw Johnson's speed, he took the formidable opponent down and ground and pound him using his Division I championship wrestling skills, which opened up a rear naked choke forcing the giant Johnson to tap out....even though Josh Koscheck has a couple losses, those losses came when he was HELPING THE UFC BY TAKING FIGHTS ON SHORTENED NOTICE AFTER OTHER UFC FIGHTERS PULLED OUT OF THE FIGHTS; THE FEW LOSSES WERE A RESULT OF TAKING FIGHTS ON TWO WEEKS NOTICE TO HELP THE UFC. Koscheck is the go-to utility guy that the UFC has always been able to call upon when they need help in the welterweight divison. He deserves the respect of getting the title shot because NO ONE IN THE USA CARES ABOUT HARDY, who is merely a bufoon with a gimick mowhawk who has fought nobody. Koscheck and Johnson would easily walk-thru Hardy....UFC, do the right thing and give Koscheck the title shot that he earned last night. Koscheck will sell alot more pay-per-views than Hardy, and that is the bottom line.
Your thinly disguised "mafia" threats against the freshman quarterback and the coach will be made available to the administration and to the Metro police. It is a shame that the philanthropy of those you represent only goes as far as their bigotry will allow. You've really gone too far!