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June 27, 2008
Giving the Welterweight division "Kos" for concern
As Josh Koscheck prepares for his fight at UFC 86 against Chris Lytle, there’s no secret as to what is expected from him. Koscheck is already one of the top fighters in the world in the welterweight division despite only having 15 professional fights.
Kos made his debut in the UFC on The Ultimate Fighter: Season One. The show would share the very best and worst of Koscheck. He was shown as a dedicated friend and teammate in helping Bobby Southworth cut weight for a fight. Along with Southworth, Koscheck also showed his immaturity when the two ran a water hose on a sleeping Chris Leben that escalated into Leben busting up his hand and most of the house.
Since being on the show, Koscheck has amassed an 8-2 record in the Octagon. He holds wins over Diego Sanchez and Dustin Hazelett. The biggest fight of his career came last August when he faced Georges St-Pierre. GSP dominated Koscheck all three rounds. It was thought that GSP would have difficulty taking Koscheck to the ground due to Koscheck’s background as a four-time All-American wrestler. St-Pierre had no such problems and Koscheck realized just how far away he is from being the best.Click "See More" to continue.
With the exception of GSP, Koscheck is still probably the best wrestler in the division. His striking has improved in each fight as evident by his TKO win over Hazelett at UFC 82. Kos caught Hazelett with a big head kick and then finished the fight off with punches.
Koscheck is still young enough, 30, to be a force in the division for the better part of the next decade. He’ll need a big win over Chris Lytle and likely a win over a top contender to receive a title shot against the champion. Koscheck and teammate Jon Fitch refuse to fight each other unless it is for the title so Koscheck will likely face someone like Matt Serra, Thiago Alves or maybe even a rematch with Diego Sanchez.
Kos is the total package of what Dana White envisions as an Ultimate Fighter. He has the physical looks, personality and game to be not only a force in the UFC but a star that can be used worldwide to expand the sport. Koscheck is a legitimate threat to anyone in the division with his improved striking. He is a phenomenal athlete and the only question about him may be his heart and desire to be the best in the world. Those doubts can start to be erased with an impressive outing next Saturday against Lytle.Source: MVN.com
