Bellator MMA announced tonight that it has added Josh Koscheck to its Welterweight roster.
Koscheck is a 25-fight Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) veteran and was among the few pioneers who helped shepherd mixed martial arts (MMA) into the mainstream as a participant on Spike TV's inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) on Spike TV.
Talk about coming full circle.
The former No. 1-ranked 170-pound title challenger, who lost his his bid to win a world title with a unanimous decision loss to Georges St-Pierre at UFC 124 in Dec. 2010, is currently mired in a five-fight losing streak. In fact, the 37-year-old has been finished in four of those defeats, two of which (Robbie Lawler and Tyron Woodley) were incredibly violent.
Indeed, his best fighting days are likely behind him at this advanced stage of his combat sports career. But perhaps a change of scenery -- and a rematch against Paul Daley -- can ensure that he leaves the sport on a positive note.
No date or possible opponent, though, was revealed at this time.
It's not a stretch to think that UFC's sponsorship deal with Reebok, which goes into effect next week (July 1, 2015), played into Koscheck's decision. In addition to being a great fighter, Koscheck has proved throughout his career that he is a very intelligent business-minded man outside the cage.
