Over a brilliant career, Josh Koscheck has fought some of the biggest names in MMA history such as Tyron Woodley, Johny Hendricks, Georges St-Pierre, Diego Sanchez, Robbie Lawler and Matt Hughes.
He sent Matt Hughes into retirement and handed Diego Sanchez his first professional loss. He has challenged for the UFC Welterweight championship and routinely been near the top of the card every time he fought.
That is why it is so sad to see the current state of his career. With five straight losses, four of which have been early knockouts and submission defeats. His excellent wrestling skills seem to be a step slower these days, and what he had left of a chin now appears to be completely gone.
As huge Josh Koscheck fan, it pains me to see this, but I have to agree with Dana White when he calls for his retirement. Koscheck has nothing left to prove. He has fought for a title, appeared on the Ultimate Fighter as both a competitor and a coach, one of the few to ever do that.
He has worked his butt off and been a part of some classic fights.
He entered the sport in 2004 with an excellent background in collegiate wrestling at Edinboro Univesity in PA. In 2001, during his junior season, Koscheck won all of his wrestling matches and went on to become the NCAA Division I Champion in the 174 lb weight class. In addition to being a four-time NCAA Division I All-American (placing 4th, 2nd, 1st and 3rd respectively), Koscheck is a three-time recipient of the PSAC Wrestler of the Year award and earned the Eastern Wrestling League Achievement Award twice.
His 15 UFC wins, are among the most of any competitor to compete in the Octagon. At only 37 years of age, he already has a lot of tread on the tires and certainly no-one will blame him if he calls it quit now. White will do his best to convince him to retire, but all signs point to Koscheck not going down easy and pushing for at least one more fight.
Whatever the decision is from Koscheck, it will come with a fair amount of disagreement, but at this in his life, he has to think about his family and future, a point he made himself in the post fight interview.
So what do you think fight fans, does he hang up the gloves or go for one more last shot at glory?
Until next time, No Blood : No Foul