Top-ranked welterweight contender, Josh Koscheck (12-4), and former number one division contender, Frank Trigg (19-6), are in talks to battle it out for 170-pound supremacy at UFC 103 on Sept. 19.
MMAmania.com learned earlier today about the likely match up; however, a venue is still unknown at this time (locations in the United Kingdom and Las Vegas are under under consideration) for the event. In addition, nine-time division kingpin, Matt Hughes, is also lurking in the shadows as a possible opponent for Koscheck ... albeit on the outside.
When reached for comment, Koscheck indicated that he didn't have a preference, saying "I'll fight either one of those guys. Line them up back-to-back so I can beat one and then move onto the other. It's nothing personal against them -- Trigg and Hughes are both great fighters and a fight with either one of those guys would be a great show for the fans. And that is what it's all about. I want big fights against big names, guys who will motivate me to train harder than ever before -- Trigg and Hughes are those types of guys."
"Kos" broke his toe back in April while training for his 170-pound match up with Chris Wilson at UFC 98, which would have marked his fourth fight in six months. The wrestling phenom is already back at full strength after spending the past few months on the disabled list, itching to return from the sidelines and get back to his winning ways.
Koscheck was recently upended when he walked into a Paulo Thiago uppercut at UFC 95: "Sanchez vs. Stevenson" last February. The referee jumped in to stop the action in the first round after Koscheck hit the canvas, which several onlookers, including Koscheck, felt was a premature stoppage.
He will no doubt look to exact revenge on his next opponent, which could very well be the the 37-year-old veteran welterweight who just this week signed a contract to return to the organization.
"Twinkle Toes" (19-6) -- who is returning to the UFC after more than three years of fighting outside the promotion -- is perhaps best known to UFC fans for his two defeats at the hands of former division champion Matt Hughes — both by rear naked choke. First at UFC 45 and then again at UFC 52.
The former University of Oklahoma wrestler attempted to rebound at UFC 54 against Georges St. Pierre, but met a similar fate at the hands of the current champ after being dominated from the opening horn.
Trigg put together a solid 7-2 run outside of Zuffa, including wins over Jason "Mayhem" Miller and Kazuo Misaki, and was last seen outpointing a very game Danny Babcock in the main event of the XCF: "Rumble in Racetown" event back on February 14.
Hughes, on the other hand, is coming off a big win over nemesis Matt Serra via unanimous decision at UFC 98: "Evans vs. Machida." He indicated after the bout that his contract status and future were up in the air, requiring a meeting with company president Dana White to map out his plans moving forward.
Retirement, however, does not appear to be an option at this time. On the contrary, Hughes indicated after the fight that he would prefer to compete closer to home, which would have to be somewhere near Illinois and certainly not overseas.
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