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Josh Koscheck has been scratching and clawing his way into title contention since his arrival in the Ultimate Fighting Championship via “The Ultimate Fighter” reality show’s debut season.
He’s been on the cusp of a title shot on a few occasions, but untimely losses to Georges St-Pierre, Thiago Alves, and Paulo Thiago derailed his track to fighting for the championship.
The American Kickboxing Academy trained athlete knew for “a long time” before stepping in the Octagon with Paul Daley at UFC 113 on May 8 that a win would garner him a title bout and a rematch with St-Pierre, only this time it would be a five-round contest.
“This time it is everything. This is going to be it man,” Koscheck told MMAWeekly.com. “This is my run to the title and I’m going to get it. I’m close. I’ve got to be focused. I’ve got to train and I’m coming out of this fight with a victory.”
Following his win over Daley in Montreal, Koscheck let it be known that he’d like for the rematch to take place near his hometown of Waynesburg, Penn., in Pittsburgh.
“I think the city of Pittsburgh needs something like that. I’m from the area and it would be great to come home and have the support of all of my fans that have been backing me all the way since I was in college wrestling all the way up to now fighting for the title,” said Koscheck. “Pittsburgh would be a great, great city to have the UFC.”
Pittsburgh is just the 32-year-old fighter’s first choice, and anticipates a good event no matter what city plays host.
“Bringing the UFC to Pittsburgh would be awesome, but regardless where it is it’s going to be a great event and me and St-Pierre are going to put on a good show.”
St-Pierre was able to out-wrestle the four-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler when they first met at UFC 74 in August of 2007, but Koscheck refuses to let that happen in the rematch.
“Georges, you better work on your power because I’m going to force you to stand up with me when we fight and I’m going to knock you out.”
He’s been on the cusp of a title shot on a few occasions, but untimely losses to Georges St-Pierre, Thiago Alves, and Paulo Thiago derailed his track to fighting for the championship.
The American Kickboxing Academy trained athlete knew for “a long time” before stepping in the Octagon with Paul Daley at UFC 113 on May 8 that a win would garner him a title bout and a rematch with St-Pierre, only this time it would be a five-round contest.
“This time it is everything. This is going to be it man,” Koscheck told MMAWeekly.com. “This is my run to the title and I’m going to get it. I’m close. I’ve got to be focused. I’ve got to train and I’m coming out of this fight with a victory.”
Following his win over Daley in Montreal, Koscheck let it be known that he’d like for the rematch to take place near his hometown of Waynesburg, Penn., in Pittsburgh.
“I think the city of Pittsburgh needs something like that. I’m from the area and it would be great to come home and have the support of all of my fans that have been backing me all the way since I was in college wrestling all the way up to now fighting for the title,” said Koscheck. “Pittsburgh would be a great, great city to have the UFC.”
Pittsburgh is just the 32-year-old fighter’s first choice, and anticipates a good event no matter what city plays host.
“Bringing the UFC to Pittsburgh would be awesome, but regardless where it is it’s going to be a great event and me and St-Pierre are going to put on a good show.”
St-Pierre was able to out-wrestle the four-time NCAA Division I All-American wrestler when they first met at UFC 74 in August of 2007, but Koscheck refuses to let that happen in the rematch.
“Georges, you better work on your power because I’m going to force you to stand up with me when we fight and I’m going to knock you out.”
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