Josh Koscheck Interested In Fights With Diaz, Maia, Others In 2013 Return

[No More Sorrow]

Though he was hoping to fight by the end of the year, Josh Koscheck will wait for the calendar to turn.

When he returns, the former UFC welterweight title challenger has a few ideas of whom he'd like to fight. It's a short list, but it's a veritable who's-who of the 170-pound class.


Koscheck (17-6 MMA, 15-6 UFC) on Tuesday named Nick Diaz, Demian Maia, Jake Ellenberger and Rory MacDonald as opponents he's interested in.


"Doesn't look like UFC has a fight (for) me until (2013). So I'll just train and get better," Koscheck stated on Twitter. The fighter then went on to list the four opponents he's most interested in.


Koscheck earlier this fall said his plan was to return to action at UFC 155, which takes place Dec. 29 in Las Vegas. But a fight for him didn't materialize for that card, and now the California-based fighter will next see work in 2013.


Koscheck won two straight fights after dropping a unanimous decision against Georges St-Pierre in a welterweight title fight at UFC 124 in December 2010. He returned from a long injury layoff to knock out Matt Hughes in the first round at UFC 135, then won a split decision against Mike Pierce at UFC 141. But against Johny Hendricks at UFC on FOX 3 this past May, a split decision didn't go his way.


He was booked for a fight with Ellenberger at UFC 151, but had to pull out of that fight with a back injury. Then that event was canceled, anyway.


Ellenberger (28-6 MMA, 7-2 UFC) beat Koscheck replacement Jay Hieron by unanimous decision earlier this month at UFC on FX 5. It's conceivable that Ellenberger could be ready to go again for an early 2013 fight against Koscheck.


Diaz (26-8 MMA, 7-5 UFC) currently is suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission and won't be eligible to fight again until February.


Maia (17-4 MMA, 11-4 UFC) earlier this month made quick work of Rick Story at UFC 153 in Brazil, submitting the wrester halfway through the first round and leaving the fight with virtually no damage.


And MacDonald (13-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) is awaiting a fight against B.J. Penn at UFC on FOX 5 in December, a bout that was delayed from UFC 152 when MacDonald suffered a bad forehead cut in training.

Either fight makes sense, would love to see him and Diaz fight though. Trash talking leading up to the fight would be awesome.

 

[Dale]

Yeah Koscheck Diaz would be TUF worthy.

 

[Deezy]

Kos facing Diaz would be a good hyped fight, but wouldn't deliver imo. He got outboxed by GSP and a jab, just imagine what the Stockton slap do to him.

 

[No More Sorrow]

He'll probably end up fighting Ellenberger as they were supposed to fight originally a few months back.

 

[The Cork]

Agreed with Deezy, Kos is done now IMO, basically an albino midget Rampage.

All talk and hype, no action.

 

[Slim]

Agreed with Deezy, Kos is done now IMO, basically an albino midget Rampage.

All talk and hype, no action.

Well he at least knows how to vary up his attacks unlike Rampage. He knows what a leg kick is

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

He's not as bad as Rampage, a fight with Diaz would produce some great trash talk.

 

[No More Sorrow]

Kos just tweeted this..

I'd like to fight (before) Feb.....But...." Koscheck posted. "Cesar is calling 4 me for the Diaz fight in Feb. Super Bowl weekend! What you guy think? I am DOWN! Don't be scared Homie!"

 

[The Cork]

Diaz is going to fucking wreck this fool.

 

[Embrace Thou Maryse]

Diaz beats Kos then we get Diaz vs GSP.

 

[Deezy]

I like Koscheck unlike most fighters nowadays, he doesn't seem to turn down fights.

Most people still equate him to that guy from TUF 1 and harbour grudges from it, but I think he is still one of the top guys in the division who doesn't have boring fights, outside of the Diego fight years ago.

 

[The Cork]

You must of missed the Hendricks and Daley fights then....

 

[Deezy]

You must of missed the Hendricks and Daley fights then....

Hendricks and Kos was a very good fight, and Daley should've learned some takedown defense.

 

[The Cork]

*Mike Pierce

Got confused between him and Hendricks for whatever reason.