Josh Koscheck announces retirement from MMA

Longtime welterweight contender Josh Koscheck has decided to step away from MMA after a 28-fight career.

Another early TUF star has decided to bring a close to his MMA career. Josh Koscheck, who turned a memorable TUF appearance into a decade-long run in the UFC at the top of the welterweight division, officially announced his retirement on The Luke Thomas Show on Sirius XM:

Koscheck was honest in his assessment of why he was hanging ‘em up. He believes that he was in shape, yet just didn’t have it anymore. He did leave the door open for a return, but it doesn’t sound like it’ll happen:

“You never know, I might come back some day, but I appreciate that. 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 obviously 40, but I just didn’t have it.”

He also spoke of his injuries, including a neck injury that led to him only getting in the Bellator cage once.

The 40-year-old Koscheck (17-11) was a contestant on the first Ultimate Fighter show, coming into the house with only a long list of wrestling credentials and a strong work ethic. He excelled though, making the semi-finals and showing off his famously mercurial personality.

A long UFC career followed, where he eventually ascended high enough to earn a title shot against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 74 in 2007. Unfortunately for him, he suffered a broken orbital bone in the bout that gave him some major trouble for a while. He did pick up two good wins after that, but was never really the same fighter. He fought sporadically over the next few years, eventually dropping five fights in a row in the Octagon.

Once he moved over to Bellator, the promotion looked to book a big rematch with Paul Daley. It never came to pass though, and Koscheck was stopped in the first round of his final bout against Mauricio Alonzo in February 2017.

Over the course of his career, Koscheck defeated the likes of Diego Sanchez, Chris Lytle, Anthony Johnson, Paul Daley, and Matt Hughes.