Josh Koscheck (Photo/Bellator)In terms of MMA retirees, Josh Koscheck makes it three ... in just four days.
In a week that saw Rashad Evans and Johny Hendricks reveal they were stepping away from their mixed martial arts career, Koscheck became the third college-wrestler-turned-MMA-star to make his retirement official.
Koscheck -- an NCAA wrestling champ at Edinboro University who went on to contend for middleweight titles in a long professional mixed martial arts career -- announced his decision on "The Luke Thomas Show" on Thursday.
The 40-year-old Koscheck -- who hasn't fought since February 2017 -- told Thomas that his inability to continue competing at a high level is ultimately why was announcing the official conclusion of his pro MMA career that spanned 13 years.
"You never know, I might come back some day," Koscheck said in the interview. "The biggest thing about my mixed martial arts career, at the ending it didn't go the way I wanted. It's almost like you kind of just lose it, and it pains me to say that. It really, truly pains me as a fighter because I have a big ego -- everybody that steps inside that cage has a big ego -- but I truly didn't have it. I couldn't go out there and compete with these young guys. I felt great in the gym. I was in great shape. I don't think I was ever in better shape than I was at 38, 39, and 40, but I just didn't have it."
Koscheck launched his pro MMA career in 2004, with two wins before first really making a name for himself in mixed martial arts as a middleweight (185-pound) contestant in the inaugural season of "The Ultimate Fighter" in 2005, making it to the semifinals where he lost a split decision to eventual TUF champ Diego Sanchez.
In a career that spanned 13 years and 28 bouts -- 24 of those in UFC -- Koscheck tallied an overall record of 17-11, including a 15-10 record in UFC. The former collegiate champ once fought for the welterweight (170-pound) title against champ Georges St-Pierre in December 2010 at UFC 124, coming out on the losing end of a unanimous decision.
Koscheck can claim victories over such notables as UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes, Frank Trigg, Anthony Johnson, and Paul Daley. However, as MMAfighting.com described it, "The last few years have been unkind to Koscheck" having gone 0-6 since 2012, including five stoppage losses.
Before climbing into the Octagon, Josh Koscheck crafted an impressive amateur wrestling resume. Wrestling for Waynesburg Central High School, he was crowned a Pennsylvania state champ. Staying in the Keystone State, Koscheck continued his mat career at Edinboro University, where he was a four-time NCAA Division I All-American. He won the 174-pound title at the 2001 NCAAs. In 2012, Koscheck was welcomed into the Edinboro Athletics Hall of Fame.
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