Josh Koscheck
From FightWiki
Josh D. "Kos" Koscheck is an American mixed martial artist from Fresno, California, a former collegiate wrestling champion, and is currently fighting at welterweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
He made his debut with the organization on the first season of the reality television show, The Ultimate Fighter 1: Team Couture vs. Team Liddell.
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Name | Josh Koscheck |
| Nickname | Kos | |
| Association | American Kickboxing Academy | |
| Weight Class | Welterweight | |
| Weight | 170 lb (77 kg) | |
| Height | 5'10" (178 cm) | |
| Style | Wrestling, Kickboxing | |
| Birth Date | 11/30/1989 | |
| Fighting Out Of | Fresno, California | |
| Country | USA | |
| Kos Pictures | http://www.kos-check.com/ |
Contents |
Professional Record
| Record | 12 - 3 - 0 (Win-Loss-Draw) |
| Wins | 3 T(KO) 4 Submissions 5 Decisions |
| Losses | 0 T(KO) 1 Submissions 2 Decisions |
| Result | Opponent | Method | Event Title | Date | Round | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Yoshiyuki Yoshida | KO (Punch) | UFC Fight for the Troops | 12/10/2008 | 1 | 2:15 | Won Knockout of the Night Award |
| Loss | Thiago Alves | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 90: Silva vs. Cote | 10/25/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | For the #1 Welterweight contender |
| Win | Chris Lytle | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 86: Jackson vs. Griffin | 7/05/2008 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Dustin Hazelett | TKO (Head Kick and Punches) | UFC 82: Pride of a Champion | 3/01/2008 | 2 | 1:24 | |
| Loss | Georges St. Pierre | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 74: Respect | 8/25/2007 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Diego Sanchez | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC 69: Shootout | 4/07/2007 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Jeff Joslin | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Fight Night 7 | 12/13/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Jonathan Goulet | Submission (Punches) | UFC Fight Night 6 | 8/17/2006 | 1 | 4:10 | |
| Win | Dave Menne | Decision (Unanimous) | UFC Ultimate Fight Night 5 | 6/28/2006 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Ansar Chalangov | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC Ultimate Fight Night 4 | 4/06/2006 | 1 | 3:29 | |
| Loss | Drew Fickett | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC Ultimate Fight Night 2 | 10/03/2005 | 3 | 4:38 | |
| Win | Pete Spratt | Submission (Rear Naked Choke) | UFC Ultimate Fight Night | 8/06/2005 | 1 | 1:53 | UFC debut at Welterweight |
| Win | Chris Sanford | KO (Punch) | The Ultimate Fighter 1 Finale | 4/09/2005 | 1 | 4:21 | UFC debut |
| Win | Luke Cummo | Decision (Unanimous) | ROC 6: Ring of Combat 6 | 4/24/2004 | 3 | 5:00 | |
| Win | Cruz Chacon | Submission (Neck Crank) | KOTR: King of the Rockies | 1/03/2004 | 3 | 2:57 | |
Background
Koscheck has a strong, well-documented base in collegiate wrestling, dating back to his years at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where he attended the university on an athletic scholarship. In 2001, during his Junior season, Koscheck won all 42 of his wrestling matches, and went on to become the NCAA Division I Champion in the 174 lb weight class. In the coming years, he would win many championships and receive many honors in his national collegiate wrestling career. In addition to being a four-time NCAA Division I All-American (placing 4th, 3rd, 1st, and 2nd respectively), Koscheck is a three-time recipient of the PSAC Wrestler of the Year award, and earned the Eastern Wrestling League Achievement Award twice.
He was awarded a Bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Edinboro University.
He spent one and a half years as the assistant head wrestling coach at the University at Buffalo.
Mixed Martial Arts Career
Koscheck began his professional mixed martial arts career in 2004, compiling victories over Cruz Chacon and Luke Cummo.
In 2005, Koscheck appeared on The Ultimate Fighter 1: Team Couture vs. Team Liddell, a reality television show which hosted competitions for light heavyweight and middleweight fighters. Koscheck was selected to compete in the middleweight category, and advanced to the semi-finals by defeating Chris Leben; after the victory, Leben criticized Koscheck's style of fighting, which focused on ground control and positioning rather than strikes. In the semi-finals, Koscheck lost by split-decision to Diego Sanchez. Even though he scored numerous take downs, Diego in his positions managed to control the action by landing more effective strikes which resulted in Josh Koscheck suffering a concussion and requiring emergency medical care.
Although he didn't proceed to the final round, Koscheck was featured on the undercard of the live season finale on Spike TV, where he made his official UFC debut by defeating Christopher Sanford by knockout.
After The Ultimate Fighter
Koscheck followed this victory with another win at Ultimate Fight Night over UFC veteran Pete Spratt in Koscheck's UFC debut at welterweight. Since then, Koscheck has amassed an additional three victories after experiencing his first career loss to Drew Fickett due to a rear naked choke. Koscheck then defeated Canadian welterweight standout Jonathan Goulet at UFC Fight Night 6 by submission due to strikes.
As of 2006, Koscheck has been training at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, California, to which he accredits his vastly improved kickboxing technique.
Koscheck's fight on December 13, 2006 was against Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt Jeff Joslin at UFC Fight Night 7 where he won by unanimous decision.
Koscheck was then scheduled to fight Diego Sanchez on April 7, 2007 at UFC 69. This was the second encounter between the two welterweight fighters. The first fight – which did not count towards Koscheck's official record due to the bout being considered an exhibition match for The Ultimate Fighter television taping – resulted in a split decision loss for Koscheck. At the weigh-ins for the event, Sanchez shoved Koscheck during the traditional post-weigh-in staredown. Although Sanchez continued to shout at Koscheck, no conflict ensued.
At UFC 69, Koscheck defeated Diego Sanchez by unanimous decision in an uneventful fight. Koscheck out struck Sanchez through three rounds, and only initiated a wrestling takedown once. During the post-fight interview, Koscheck repeatedly exclaimed, "Nineteen-and-one," in reference to Sanchez' first mixed martial arts defeat (including the two fights from The Ultimate Fighter program). UFC President Dana White announced a few weeks after the fight that Diego Sanchez had an undiagnosed illness before and during the fight which turned out to be serious staph infection.
On August 25th, 2007, at UFC 74 Koscheck was defeated by Georges St. Pierre at UFC 74 via unanimous decision. (30-27, 29-28, 29-28). His wrestling skills were displayed during the match by outwrestling Koscheck, scoring takedowns, stopping Koscheck's takedown attempts and maintaining top position throughout most of the fight. There was speculation before the fight that Koscheck would out-match St.-Pierre on the ground due to his credentials, but St.-Pierre was confident that he was a better wrestler and striker and was more well versed in submissions than Koscheck.
Josh made his return at UFC 82, defeating Dustin Hazelett by TKO due to strikes at 1:24 of the 2nd round.
He won his next fight, against Chris Lytle at UFC 86, winning by unanimous decision after cutting Lytle badly with "ground and pound" elbows.
Koscheck has agreed to step in and fight Thiago Alves at UFC 90 on just 2 weeks notice due to an injury suffered by Diego Sanchez. Koscheck lost the fight via unanimous decision. Alves landed powerful leg kicks and managed to drop Koscheck more than once during the fight.
Koscheck is set to headline UFC: Fights for the Troops where he will face Yoshiyuki Yoshida on December 10, 2008. The event will help raise funds for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which provides support for severely wounded military personnel and veterans and the families of military personnel lost in service.
Dispute with UFC
Koscheck's fight on December 10 might be his last with the UFC. A recent blow up between Dana White and Duane Zinkin and Bob Cook of Zinkin Entertainment resulted in the release of UFC welterweight Jon Fitch, but things were smoothed over and Fitch stayed on the UFC's roster. A dispute began between Dana White and Zinkin Entertainment over a merchandise contract.
The argument stemmed from Zinkin and Cook advising their clients not to sign the UFC's merchandising agreement, which gives the company lifetime merchandising rights to the fighters. According to Cook, they gave the fighters the option of signing the agreement or not. UFC, in its current contract, had the rights to merchandise the fighters and put them in the videogame. However, UFC insisted on exclusive rights, which were not in the former contract.
As Koscheck is not willing to sign an exclusive rights contract with UFC, There is a possibility he could be released. The fight with Yoshiyuki Yoshida will happen regardless of whether Koscheck signs an exclusive rights contract, however will most likely be released if he loses this fight.
Random Facts
Koscheck appeared in the music video for Chevelle's song "I Get It", playing the man who beats up an employer.
