I see that you are not currently registered on our forum. It only takes a second, and you can even login with your Facebook! If you would like to register now, pease click here: Register
Once registered please introduce yourself in our introduction thread which can be found here: Introduction Board
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
Family, That's how Strikeforce fighters and American Kickboxing Academy teammates Luke Rockhold and Daniel Cormier constantly referred to their team.
One month after one of AKA's own left the team with some unkind parting words for founding coach Javier Mendez, Rockhold and Cormier said those teammates remaining are doing just fine.
Mendez declined comment on Josh Koscheck's recent comments. But Rockhold and Cormier said they saw Koscheck's exit coming.
"Sometimes people grow apart, and it was just Josh's time," Cormier said.
Koscheck's relationship with the San Jose, Calif. gym stretches back eight years. But the former welterweight title challenger has always resided in nearby Fresno, where in recent years he's built a house and started two gyms.
Those facilities used to be called AKA Fresno. The domain name for their website remains the same. But now, the page is marked by a big blue logo sporting a new name: Dethrone Base Camp.
The first fracture in AKA San Jose emerged this past January with the departure of Dave Camarillo, the team's longtime jiu-jitsu coach. Koscheck's departure prompted meetings with the remaining members of the team, who closed ranks amid requests for interviews. High-profile fighters such as team captain Jon Fitch, Cormier, Rockhold, Josh Thomson and Mike Swick stayed with the team.
Koscheck's departure has not changed his business relationship with Zinkin Entertainment, which represents the majority of established professional fighters at AKA, and the fighter said he'll continue to train with AKA fighters when they can make it to Fresno.
But the coaching relationship is forever changed.
Cormier acknowledged the rift between Kosheck and Mendez but said the grind of commuting ultimately may have worn the welterweight down.
"Josh has got a multi-million-dollar home," Cormier said. "He's got a great life in Fresno. I think it was time for him to start doing his thing there."
According to Rockhold, Koscheck had been doing his thing long before he left San Jose.
"From day one, it's been 'Team Me' for him," Rockhold said. "So he can be 'Team Me' down in Fresno. He does his thing down there.
"But we're not breaking up our family. We're stronger than ever. Our team is awesome."
Koscheck (17-5 MMA, 15-5 UFC) has touted a new team of coaches at the Fresno gym that he expects to prepare him for a meeting with Johny Hendricks (12-1 MMA, 7-1 UFC) at UFC on FOX 3, which takes place May 5 at IZOD Center in East Rutherford, N.J.
Rockhold (9-1 MMA, 8-0 SF), meanwhile, expects to meet Tim Kennedy (14-3 MMA, 5-1 SF) in late June or early July while Cormier (9-0 MMA, 6-0 SF) is scheduled to fight Josh Barnett (31-5 MMA, 2-0 SF) in the finale of the Strikeforce heavyweight grand prix in May.
So fights roll on, as does AKA. Rockhold and Cormier wish their former teammate well.
"It sounds like things are coming together for him, so good for him," Rockhold said.
Maybe he'll come crawling back when Hendricks knocks him out : nah, Koscheck will be fine or from what he's said in interviews it seems that way. He's happy in his new gym with his new training partners and coaches.
: nah, Koscheck will be fine or from what he's said in interviews it seems that way. He's happy in his new gym with his new training partners and coaches. 
