UFC Fight Night 20: Josh Koscheck vs Mike Pierce set for Jan. 11 in Virginia

by MMAmania.com on Oct 16, 2009 9:58 PM EDT

koscheck_pierce

Top welterweight Josh Koscheck announced today via Twitter.com that he will return to action against Mike Pierce at UFC Fight Night 20, which is tentatively scheduled to take place in northern Virgina on Monday, Jan. 11, 2010.

No venue is known at this time. And the promotion has yet to officially announce the Spike TV event. Nonetheless, expect those announcements to come soon.

Koscheck is fresh off a first round technical knockout finish of former two-time 170-pound number one contender, Frank Trigg, at UFC 103 just last month. The American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) standout has expressed numerous times his desire to fight whenever, wherever and against whoever the promotion sees fight.

This fight appears to be no different.

Here's a snip from "Kos:"

"Like I said, I don't care who I fight or where ... just get me someone who wants to fight."

Pierce certainly fits that description.

He recently stunned quite a few fans in his Octagon debut at UFC Fight Night 19, registering a convincing unanimous decision over the super tough Brock Larson. It was just the third loss in Larson's impressive career. And it marked six straight wins for the surging Pierce.

Despite his recent success, Pierce will no doubt be a heavy underdog on fight night when he gets locked inside the cage opposite the 15-fight UFC veteran.

Stay dialed in to MMAmania.com for more on UFC Fight Night 20 as more details emerge in the near future.

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Pierce by decision

by CanadianSensation on Oct 16, 2009 10:02 PM EDT reply actions

I would love to hear your reasoning on this one. If your right you can make a quick buck. I’m sure the have Koscheck in about -450.

by bluepit on Oct 16, 2009 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Typed too fast, ment -350

by bluepit on Oct 16, 2009 10:24 PM EDT up reply actions

The man was able to LNP larson so his wrestling and top control isn’t all that bad. That’s a feat right there. Kos has shown in the past that he can overlook people’s wrestling.

by NameNotRequired on Oct 17, 2009 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions

BJ BJ BJ!!!

by ( (Adam G) ) on Oct 17, 2009 2:48 AM EDT up reply actions

This is ridiculous. Kos has been in the UFC for 4 1/2 years now and is somehow a consensus top-5 fighter in spite of the fact that he continues to fight nobodies. His biggest fights to date are: GSP, who owned him for 3 rounds; T. Alves, who owned him for 3 rounds on short notice, so he gets some credit for that; and Sanchez who he needed a decision win even though Sanchez had a nasty staph infection and nearly retired the day before the fight. If Kos is content to fight nobodies and collect 60K checks plus bonuses and not get near the title, which should be every fighter’s goal, then just come out and say so. Otherwise demand better competition. And Frank F’ing Trigg is not better competition.

by PW on Oct 17, 2009 9:46 AM EDT up reply actions

great post PW! It sickens me how these so called “Top Fighters”, have like 10 fights in the UFC and fight NOBODIES! Swick has had 9 UFC fights, yet has FACED NO ONE, and now is considered a contender. Personally If I was Koscheck, I would be insulted if Joe silva offered me this fight. No way would I take this fight. I would demand better competition, and NO, calling out a WASHED UP MATT HUGHES DOESNT COUNT!

Lost all RESPECT for AKA welterweights except for Fitch. He is the only one with any balls!

by john G on Oct 17, 2009 12:55 PM EDT up reply actions

PW and john…nice posts. I couldn’t agree more. I don’t understand why Kos would take this fight. I’m not knocking Pierce but Kos needs to step up and fight some better competition than this if he wants to climb the ranks. I hope this guy gives him the Paulo Thiago treatment.

by Buster Bluth on Oct 17, 2009 2:41 PM EDT up reply actions

agreed!

by john G on Oct 17, 2009 6:13 PM EDT up reply actions

i agree… but why virginia? they have a population in the whole state that couldn’t even fill arco arena.. wtf kinda decisioning is behind this? virginia is nascar country keep mma to states that can sellout an arena and fighters can get paid.. i understand expansion and wanting to go everywhere, but states that can’t sellout a good arena don’t need a card, let the little shows build your talent and bring a fanbase

by randy murders on Oct 16, 2009 11:20 PM EDT up reply actions

Awesome post…not. This will take place within 30 minutes of our Nation’s Capitol. I’d say that makes enough of a statement and will bring a fan base. I mean it’s not like people wouldn’t wanna visit DC around the holidays or anything. lol

by Ertz on Oct 16, 2009 11:57 PM EDT up reply actions

thats the first thing I though too Randy, but I guess there just rying to go everywhere. Koscheck will take this for sure I use to hate Kos specially how he came off on tuff, but ive became a huge koscheck fan specially how his willing to fight anyone and at weeks or days notice he is a true fighter I wish more guys would be like him, the only thing that I dont like is how he wont fight any of the other aka guys in my opinion he would beat both of them, I know many of you would think im crazy saying he could beat fitch but iI think there wrestling will nutralize each other and Kos would KO him on there feet.

by Nor Cal Mexican on Oct 16, 2009 11:58 PM EDT up reply actions

i too have become a fan but kos’s biggest problem is that hes forgotten to mix up his wrstling as well. use the gnp once in awhile too, dont just look for the big overhand right. too predictable. you only have to look to his own division champ how a mix of good takedowns with solid standups is a deadly combo. unpredictable.

by Egads on Oct 17, 2009 1:01 AM EDT up reply actions

Nor Cal, I feel the same way. I despised him for a ling time and thought he was a boring fighter initially. I have come to be a huge fan of his, love that he has evolved from just a wrestler to a mixed martial artists, and will take a fight at any given moment against anyone.

That being said, how does a guy like Koscheck, who has been in the top 5 of most rankings, and been a perenial top 10 for several years now, always get these gate keeper type fights? That also being said I wish these guys would be a little more business like in fighting and actually take fights against training partners. Fitch, Koscheck, Swick-AKA-hold 3 of the top 10 spots and have for quite sometime. I have competed in business against friends and have remained friend with them over the years. So there is no real reason why they shouldn’t be able to fight each other. Fitch vs. Koscheck would be such an amazing fight…

by Da Monkey on Oct 17, 2009 8:23 AM EDT up reply actions

Randy it’s pretty clear you’ve never been to Virginia. I live in VA and I’m pretty sure it’s a decently large state in terms of population. Also only a few parts of VA are at all hick-ee. I live in northern Virginia in Fairfax County which i think is the richest county in America (suburb of D.C.).

The first thing I thought of though was that horrendous Beebe-Easton decision. God forbid we get those judges back again.

by frosnt on Oct 17, 2009 12:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Mid-Atlantic MMA is budding and Northeast MMA is huge. UWC puts on good shows in VA. Shogun Fights is starting up in Baltimore.

UFC 101 in Philly was huge, and even UFC 78 in Jersey was a success (although it was a crappy event)…Zuffa knows what’s up.

From here on out, I would expect a UFC event in this region at least once each year.

by EZ on Oct 17, 2009 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions

Randy Murders, You know NOTHING about VA and its MMA fan base so I suggest you put a mouthpiece in and STFU.

Va has a HUGE MMA fan base and to have the UFC come to VA/DC area would be awesome. Va is basically where I grew up and thru the years, MMA has grown to be huge their. The UWC is growing like crazy and some popular stations and popular sport figures of the DC area support them and its awesome.

If the UFC goes to MCI Center (in DC) or the Patriot center in Fairfax, Va then I definitely think both will be sell-outs.

by Guz on Oct 17, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Why not Virginia? I live in VA and every weekend that there is a fight the bars are packed for the fights and all the people I know here love it. Its no different then having it in Tennessee. The population of the whole state? What the hell do you know? We would like to have the fights here like everyone else.

by -D- on Oct 18, 2009 1:48 AM EDT up reply actions

Another easy fight for Kos. I hope he doesn’t expect a title shot soon. When was the last time this guy fought a Top 5 opponent? I don’t see how anyone can stay ranked by fighting guys that aren’t even Top 10.

by El Mexicutioner, Formerly The Mexicutioner on Oct 17, 2009 8:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Good match up! Like to see Kos step up his level of comp. Like when he fought the young and fresh Hazelett, or Joslin, or Thiago. Come on. Stoping looking for the easy way out. Fight Rumble or something.

by BoBBy on Oct 16, 2009 10:09 PM EDT reply actions

WOW! Just cause Pierce beat Brock Larsen doesn’t mean he is on Koschecks level as of yet. Pierce is a home town guy for me and still say he has no chance. If he can some how pull of a win that would be huge for him since Pierce is a wrestler w/out stand up. And Koscheck will cancel his wrestling out. Also heard his team mate Rick Story (Who got fight of the night and sub of the night at UFC 103) will be fighting as well no opponent as of yet that I have heard of.

by bluepit on Oct 16, 2009 10:15 PM EDT up reply actions

kos doesnt pick his oppenents like some sissies (rashad evans) who turn down matches because they dont like the match up or the date and location. Koscheck will fight anybody and where. He is a real fighter!!

by matt on Oct 17, 2009 1:47 AM EDT up reply actions

yeah kos keep fightin them bums!

by jhonny canadian on Oct 16, 2009 10:10 PM EDT reply actions

Kos is not taking his bidniz serious, does he want to lose to a no-name again? Seems to me like he has a plan to fight as many poor fighters he can, and that way beat his opponent without getting hurt so he can fight everyother month and collect as many paycheques as he can.

by RoBerto on Oct 16, 2009 10:25 PM EDT reply actions

dam i couldnt say it better myself roberto just wants to get paid,, cant stand goofy ass koscheck

by nick on Oct 16, 2009 10:32 PM EDT reply actions

I feel sorry for Kos, all of the other top WWs have fights sorted and Hughes politicked his way out of the fight, so he’s had to take a dangerous match against a no-name. Good for him for taking this tough fight though it’s a big risk and a defeat could set him back even further than the Thiago defeat. As for Hughes he should just retire, no point fighting if you duck top competition.

by David W-S on Oct 16, 2009 10:43 PM EDT reply actions

Kos is the new gate keeper.

by DolFan on Oct 17, 2009 12:04 AM EDT reply actions

stole my comment…
Intoducing…in the blue corner … Josh…the Gatekeeper… Koshhhheckkkkk

by talkman on Oct 17, 2009 3:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I hope Pierce tears him apart.

by jj on Oct 17, 2009 12:10 AM EDT reply actions

I’d be doing the same damn thing he’s doing.
Getting that paycheck.

by MURRder on Oct 17, 2009 2:39 AM EDT reply actions

While knockin’ ’em cans, sweeeet!

by Syd on Oct 17, 2009 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions

honestly i dont even like koscheck but y is he fighting this bum …hes better then that cmon now

by mike kell on Oct 17, 2009 3:06 AM EDT reply actions

Kos is abused by the UFC, he has so many fights that do nothing for his career

by Ermac on Oct 17, 2009 5:56 AM EDT reply actions

What else is he going to do? He refuses to fight the other AKA guys, and he’s already lost to GSP.

It’s not like he has a lot of options…he just wants to stay active.

by EZ on Oct 17, 2009 8:12 AM EDT up reply actions

@ Matt,

Are you a special lil guy? Cause you don’t watch mma. Rashad Evans ducks fights & picks his own? Wtf? Are you serious? I don’t like Evans but, no denying he didn’t duck rampage. You’d think with mania putting out a page thread every 5 mins you’d kno this part timer.

Then to compare kos to Evans and say kos is a better person/fighter is stupid as well.

And whether u like it or not, they are spoon feeding this loser. This albino hobo clown gets paulo (given to him 4 kos to kill coming off a loss), trigg (given to him to kill coming off a loss), and now pierce? Ya cause that’s the top of the top… This guy gets more green dudes & old timers than any1 in the league.

Here’s to hoping Pierce pulls it out

by Daniel worby on Oct 17, 2009 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

lets see here, Rashad Evans did duck Rampage when he turned down a fight with him for the title at UFC 96, then Jardine Stepped in for his scared teamate. Then Rashad was offered the fight against Randy Couture at UFC 105 and turned it down saying it wouldnt help progress his career. Is his serious how would a win over the Couture a legend of the sport not help progress your career. Look what it did for big nog, people thought he was done then he comes back beats couture and now look he is back to being in title contention.

I also never said that Kos was a better fighter, I just said he is willing to fight anybody, anytime, anywhere.And when he fought paulo he wasnt coming off a loss he was coming off the biggest knockout of his career against yoshida.

I mean who is out there in the WW division thats top five without a fight lined up already? Hughes? Hughes wont fight him and is now only looking to fight old timers he can beat. And Pierce is the real deal he just beat a beast in brock larson who nobody thought he could beat and has outstanding wrestling.

So it looks to me as you dont really watch mma as you dont really know anything about is so before you go bashing people do some research you special lil’ guy. OK.

by matt on Oct 17, 2009 11:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Actually you putz, kos gets handed whatever the hell he wants. He’s protected and ur blind biasm isn’t allowing you to see that. We’re all very impressed that you took the time to google ur stats while I went off memory.

If you wanna hold a grudge against rashad for his past, why not kos? You brought him into this thread and last I checked it had nothing to with him.

Also whether or not u believe pierce to be the real deal, and maybe he is, no one including your narrow minded self could possibly, be serious to think that this is a fight kos should be in @ this point in his career. Geez. Naïve much?

Make em fight each other then! Aka can fight each other. If Dana (lie factory) says he’ll get spider/machida’ which he won’t, why not spout off about making aka fight each other, so guys like pierce and paulo don’t get fed to non stop top 10er’s asap.

Its nice in theory when it works out (paulo) but then when you follow it with fitch alves its hardly fair.

by Daniel worby on Oct 17, 2009 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions

Koscheck should have been fighting Rumble Johnson (if he beats Zanko), that matchup would have made sense. Are the UFC protecting Anthony Johnson or something? He’s about to have his 8th fight in the Octagon and he’s not even scratching the top 10.

As for the whole AKA “Butt Buddies” thing, the reason why certain guys are considered top class is because they will fight anybody at any time. 3 top WW’s all deciding to duck each other is pathetic. Step up or shut up.

by oskarbravo on Oct 17, 2009 9:20 AM EDT reply actions