Josh Koscheck is open to continuing his MMA career despite five straight losses. UFC president Dana White would prefer he hang up the gloves.
White said on FOX Sports 1’s post-fight show Saturday night that he’ll try to get Koscheck to retire. The Ultimate Fighter 1 alum and former elite welterweight has lost five straight, the most recent Saturday night against Erick Silva by first-round submission (guillotine) at UFC Fight Night: Maia vs. LaFlare in Rio de Janeiro.
“I have a soft spot for the season one guys,” White said. “Koscheck doesn’t want to retire. He wants to talk in a couple days. I’m gonna try to push him in that direction.”
Koscheck’s contract with the UFC is up. He said on the post-fight show that maybe the UFC will hook him up with a gig at FOX Sports. In all, though, Koscheck didn’t seem to be too upset with his performance against Silva on less than two weeks notice.
“I’m not happy with where I’m at right now,” Koscheck said during the post-fight press conference. “I’m 37 years old and the last couple of fights on my contract haven’t been great. But I took this fight on short notice and I knew I could come in and make this a fun fight. It didn’t go my way tonight, but I showed up and I fight every time. Today is just Erick’s day.”
Koscheck (17-10), who has been in the UFC for 10 years, joked that maybe White should start putting him up against guys his own age. Silva is just 30 years old.
“Maybe they can make a senior-citizen division in the UFC,” Koscheck joked. White shot back: “There aren’t many of those left.”
Koscheck did imply that the game might be passing him by. He said at the press conference that he believes his skills are as good as they ever have, it’s just the level of competition has gotten better. Koscheck fell to Jake Ellenberger at UFC 184 three weeks ago and before that three of the top 170-pounders in the world: Tyron Woodley, Robbie Lawler and Johny Hendricks.
“I’ve got a good long career since The Ultimate Fighter 1 and it’s been a fun ride,” Koscheck said. “This sport is changing and these guys are getting better. These young guys are just getting tougher. I feel like my skills are there, I just need to put it together.”
When asked directly, Koscheck said he was not ready to decide yet whether or not he would step away.
“I can’t make that decision right now,” he said. “I’ll go home and talk to the old lady and we’ll see what happens.
“I do have a lot of stuff going on outside the UFC. I’m pretty busy when it comes to other businesses and things, so I think I will take the right time and make the decision when it comes.”
Koscheck owns Dethrone Base Camp in Fresno, Calif., among other businesses. He has invested well. Koscheck has said that he’s not still doing it for the money — that he returned after more than a year away against Ellenberger just to experience the feeling of getting his hand-raised again.
Then came this fight against Silva and Koscheck said he would fight again next week if White asked him. That question is not likely to come.
“Josh and I will talk in a couple days and we’ll go from there,” White said.