Koscheck Seizes Opportunity to Fight Alves
Published by on October 22nd, 2008 in Current Events

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By Dave Sholler

Josh Koscheck understands that the window of opportunity to succeed in mixed martial arts is very small. For that reason, the former NCAA Division I wrestling champion did not hesitate when UFC matchmakers called last week to ask if he’d fill in for the injured Diego Sanchez at UFC 90. With a chance to fight rising welterweight contender Thiago Alves, Koscheck knew a future title shot could be on the line.

“I felt like me and him (Alves) should have been fighting in the first place,” Koscheck, who defeated Sanchez at UFC 69, said during a press conference last week. “I personally will fight anybody anytime. I’m always in the gym training all year round, so I don’t take any time off, and I’m ready to step up. The way I see it is this is a short-notice fight for him (Alves) too, and you know he’s got a lot to prepare for because I’m not Diego Sanchez.”

Despite the short-notice, Koscheck (13-2) believes he has all the tools necessary to defeat Alves. Riding a two-fight winning streak, the Edinboro University product thinks that his versatility will prove as his biggest weapon. Still, he is mindful of his opponent’s striking ability, especially since Alves (21-4) stopped Matt Hughes and Karo Parisyan in his last two outings. That doesn’t mean Koscheck is lacking confidence though.

“I have way better wrestling than those guys,” the 30-year-old Koscheck said. “And I went back to my roots. I’m training with a lot of wrestlers. He’s (Alves) not fighting Matt Hughes. He’s not fighting Karo Parisyan. He’s not fighting Diego Sanchez. He’s fighting Josh Koscheck.

“He’s (Alves) a good fighter,” Koscheck admitted. “He’s actually a great fighter and I have a lot of respect for him and his camp. But at the end of the day, its business for both of us and we both want to win.”

Regardless of the outcome of Koscheck’s bout with Alves on Saturday, the American Kickboxing Academy pupil still plans on fighting judo champion Yoshiyuki Yoshida at a UFC charity event slated for December 10. He believes a win over Yoshida would only further catapult him into a rematch with George St. Pierre, a man who Koscheck lost to at UFC 74. Nevertheless, he’s making sure to stay focused on each bout one at a time.

“I think with two wins, I’ll be the next guy in line for (welterweight champion) Georges St. Pierre,” Koscheck said. “The first GSP fight, mentally I was a little bit not there. I didn’t really work on my wrestling back then, so I’ve become more of a complete fighter. That’s one of the lessons that I’ve learned from fighting Georges St. Pierre.

“I care about winning fights and whenever the UFC thinks I’m ready to step up again and fight a rematch (against St. Pierre), then they’ll give me that opportunity,” Koscheck added. “My goal is to win this fight and then go fight (Yoshida) and win that fight. And then if the UFC says that I’m ready for a title shot, I’ll take it. I’m in no hurry right now.”