Ian McCall gave Josh Koscheck yet another reminder of how unanimously disliked he’s become in the MMA community by sounding off on the perennial contender’s upcoming bout with Robbie Lawler at UFC 157.
While breaking down the Koscheck vs. Lawler fight with Bleacher Report’s Jeremy Botter, McCall agreed with Botter that Koscheck would prevail, but then offered these sentiments regarding the former NCAA wrestling champion:
I am hoping that Robbie Lawler knocks the f*** out of Koscheck because, let’s be honest, no one likes him. But, at the same time, I think Koscheck will win because he’s the more well-rounded fighter, and the guy knows what he’s doing. He might always be a bridesmaid and never a bride, as far as being a title contender, but he’s going to win this fight.
Lawler, who will compete in the UFC for the first time since 2004, could grant McCall’s wish if Koscheck decides to throw wild exchanges like he did before getting knocked out by Paulo Thiago at UFC 95.
Other than Thiago, however, none of Koscheck‘s 23 pro opponents, including the venomous Johny Hendricks, had any luck putting the former welterweight title challenger to sleep.
But if anyone can end the durable Koscheck’s night in a flash it’s Lawler, a man who’s won 19 pro fights, 16 by knockout.
But still, Lawler got cut by president Dana White after UFC 50 for good reason, and Kosheck has kept a contract with the promotion since competing on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter in 2005 for even better reason. These facts, coupled with Koscheck‘s exaggerated wrestling advantage, swayed the oddsmakers to deem Koscheck a 5-to-1 favorite (-500 per Bovada).
Nevertheless, Lawler is one of those guys that no wise fighter would ever overlook. Those who don’t believe should refer to his legendary brawl with Melvin Manhoef.
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