UFC welterweight Mike Pierce (13-4) will step into the Octagon this Saturday to face former No. 1 contender Josh Koscheck on the main card of UFC 143 in Las Vegas.
Pierce has been studying his opponent and feels he knows what to expect from one of the original “Ultimate Fighter’s.” His plan is to use Koscheck’s own style of bullying his opponent, taking the fight to him instead of the other way around and to “break down” his opponent.
Speaking as a guest on The MMA Hour (@MMAFighting.com) this past week, Pierce talked about his plans.
“I think you just press the pace on him and wear him down,” he said of his keys to victory. “I tend to think he’s kind of got that bully style where if he goes in there and starts beating someone up, he gets that momentum going, and it’s kind of hard to stop him. But if you come at him from the opening bell and put the pressure on him, and get inside his head and show him that he’s not in the fight, he’s just going to give up and break down.”
“I want to just press the action on Josh and watch him break down,” he said. “Nothing gives me more pleasure than watching a guy mentally and physically give up and then having the referee pull me off of him. That’s what I want.”
Pierce is 1-1 in his last two bouts, coming off a win over Paul Bradley last November at the UFC on FOX 1 event. The loss took place in August in Philadelphia, a split decision defeat versus Johny Hendricks.