Top welterweight contender Josh Koscheck could possibly meet up with Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC Fight Night 16: “Fights for the Troops” during the three-hour Spike TV special that will take place from Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C., on December 10.
MMAmania.com has heard whispers about the solid 170-pound match up from several independent sources over the course of the last few days.
Koscheck has won nine of 11 bouts inside the Octagon since his stint on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) back in early 2005, transforming from a world class wrestler into a dangerous well-rounded fighter in less than three years.
He has faced top competition in the loaded division in his last five appearances, including a showdown with current welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre (he was not champion at the time). He lost that bout via three-round decision but won over a legion of new fans with the performance for being able to hang with the uber talented Canadian.
Koscheck has since defeated rising star Dustin Hazelett with a second round technical knockout at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” back in March and grizzled veteran Chris Lytle via bloodbath, er, unanimous decision at UFC 86: “Jackson vs. Griffin” this past July.
With another win, the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) standout will be knocking on the door for a title shot along with the winner of the bout between Diego Sanchez and Thiago Alves at UFC 90: “Silva vs. Cote” next month.
However, it will not be easy … “Zenko” is quite the exotic import.
Yoshida — the former Cage Force and Shooto star — was successful in his UFC debut at UFC 84: “Ill Will” when he submitted TUF alum Jon Koppenhaver via anaconda choke. The Judoka is the winner of nine straight fights and was looking to make it 10 against Karo Parusyan at UFC 88: “Breakthrough: earlier this month before “The Heat” inexplicably withdrew from the bout just 24 hours before the bout with an injury.
If the bout is signed by both fighters it will likely serve as the main event — or at the very least — the co main event of the evening.
UFC Fight Night 16: “Fights for the Troops” will pay tribute to the United States servicemen and women serving in the armed forces. The Spike TV broadcast will coincide with a telethon during which viewers will be encouraged to call in donate money to support the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.
Stay tuned to MMAmania.com for more updates and rumors regarding UFC Fight Night 16: “Fights for the Troops.”
Note that MMAmania.com has also learned that Mike Swick will also likely compete on this card against Jonathan Goulet — not on TUF 8 fight card as previously reported today.
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Josh Koscheck, MMA News, UFC Ultimate Fight Night (UFN), UFC Welterweight Division, UFC on SpikeTV, Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), Yoshiyuki Yoshida
