Koscheck Eyes Return At UFC 139

By Raphael Garcia

Rumblings have begun about the eminent return of former welterweight title contender Josh Koscheck, the alumnus of “The Ultimate Fighter reality show who has not fought since his second defeat at the hands of current champion Georges St. Pierre. According to his official Twitter account, Koscheck is looking to make a possible return at UFC 139, which is planned for November, nearly a year after he last competed in the Octagon.



The biggest piece of news was the idea that Koscheck may come back as a middleweight instead of a welterweight. Looking at this move, I am skeptical about Koscheck fighting at this weight class, especially with the possibility that GSP could be making the same move in the coming months if he defeats Nick Diaz. Either way, here are some potential first fights that would be exciting matchups for Koscheck.:

Alan Belcher

Another fighter who is looking to make a comeback after an eye injury, Alan Belcher has not fought since his win over Patrick Cote at UFC 113. Belcher would prove to be an interesting fight for Koscheck.

Belcher should have the advantage when both fighters are on the feet. Previous fights against Cote and Yoshihiro Akiyama have demonstrated that Belcher has the ability to battle on the feet against any opponent. Where the fight may change is if Koscheck can get the fight to the ground. Both Cote and Akiyama were able to get Belcher to the ground, but neither was able to finish the fight once they were there. However, Koscheck has the ground and pound abilities to score enough points in this contest to edge out a decision victory.

Court McGee

A former TUF alumni himself, McGee would also pose an interesting challenge for a new reinvented Koscheck. Both McGee and Koscheck would be rather closely-matched in standup skill. Koscheck’s experience within the Octagon has helped him become an improved striker. This is another contest that would be decided once the fight hit the mat. McGee has proven that his ground abilities are formidable, as he has secured seven stoppages in his career by way of tap out. He utilizes a similar style to Koscheck that involves pressuring his opponent once a dominant position has been gained. This fight would come down to the question of who could better use his wrestling to establish that dominant position.

Chris Weidman

Since stepping in at UFC Live 3 and defeating Alessio Sakara, Chris Weidman has been considered an interesting prospect for the UFC middleweight division. A pairing against Koscheck would provide an interesting test.

Weidman has wrestling accolades that are similar to that of Koscheck, though he cannot tout an NCAA National Championship. However he does hold the claim of being a two-time All American. When wrestlers of high caliber are placed against each other in a MMA bout, it is usually the striking abilities of the two fighters that push the pace and decide the battle. Weidman has shown that he will continue to evolve as a fighter and become a better striker with time, however at this point Koscheck’s experience in the Octagon would help him pull out a victory in this fight.

While I hope the rumors of a move to 185 are not true, the thought of it made me think of some interesting fights for the former contender. I’m concerned about how he will deal with the ring rust, especially since he would have to contend with bigger opponents. Only time will tell which matchup is planned for UFC 139, and whether this rumored weight class change truly comes to fruition.