Josh Koscheck's performance at UFC 106 didn't earn him a
welterweight title shot. That honor goes to Dan Hardy, the next
great British MMA hope, who was already promised a chance at
champion Georges St-Pierre after defeating Mike Swick at UFC 105.
Koscheck finished Anthony Johnson in a performance that had
UFC president Dana White raving after the show. "Everyone knows
that Josh Koscheck and I have butted heads in the past," said
White. "But I was completely blown away by his performance tonight.
It was a great performance."
Koscheck called out new No. 1 contender Dan Hardy after the
bout, reiterating his belief that Hardy does not deserve the title
shot he's getting in 2010. Hardy was shown mocking Koscheck on the
live television feed.
No scheduled opponent for Koscheck has been announced, but
his most anticipated match at this point would be Hardy. That fight
can't happen until after Hardy receives his title shot, but will
almost certainly happen in 2010. It would be a matchup featuring
two of the best trash-talkers in the business and two of the
smartest businessmen in the game.
Hardy, a soft-spoken and intelligent fighter, said before
Saturday's event that he'd heard Koscheck say he didn't deserve a
title shot. "Yeah, I've heard what he's been saying. And believe
me, I will say something to him when I see him," said Hardy. "I'll
also be watching closely tonight, because there's nothing I like
more than watching Josh Koscheck get knocked out, you know?"
Koscheck took the Johnson fight on three weeks notice when
Brock Lesnar was forced to pull out of his main event bout against
Shane Carwin. The fiery wrestler, who indicated last week that he'd
like to fight once a month in 2010, told White that he's ready to
fight again if someone gets injured on the Dec. 12 show.
But the truth is that no matter who Koscheck faces, the fan
interest won't be as high as it would be for a bout with Hardy.
Both fighters cemented that at UFC 106.
If Hardy loses to St-Pierre, there's a very good chance that
Koscheck would be willing to give up an immediate title shot to
face him instead of challenging for the belt. And there's also the
chance that Koscheck could lose in the meantime, given that he
wants to stay as active as possible.
