(Photo courtesy of twitter.com/danawhite)
Here’s another reason to pay attention to the fights this weekend: At today’s UFC 113 press conference, Dana White confirmed that the winner of the co-headlining bout between Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley will be the next challenger to Georges St. Pierre‘s welterweight belt.
I’d actually be interested to see how Koscheck does in a rematch with GSP. He has the wrestling skills to stuff a takedown here and there, and his hands are more powerful than the champ’s. As long as he doesn’t focus on taking St. Pierre down like he did during their first fight in 2007 — and failing, and failing, and failing — he could keep things competitive. But my God, if Daley wins? Be prepared for the 25-minute sequel to GSP vs. Hardy that nobody asked for. Here’s the irony: Paul Daley really does have one-punch knockout power; he’s everything that the UFC hyped up/exaggerated Dan Hardy to be. The problem is, Semtex is notoriously weak on the ground, and GSP would have no trouble putting him there. We already know how this story goes, and no amount of hyperbolic promotion is going to change the outcome.
It hasn’t been officially confirmed that the Koscheck/Daley winner will coach TUF 12 opposite GSP, but rumors are pointing in that direction, and both fighters would be open to the opportunity.
Random thought: Jake Shields‘s first match in the UFC (fingers crossed) should be Paulo Thiago, and that match should produce a title contender. Discuss.
Cagepotato Comments
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commentsHow can you say Kos dont have any chance. GSP really dont have any hands. He cant throw a quitter. Kos striking is a little above average and they have stingers. GSP would take it to the ground before standing with Kos for an entire fight. I do agree Silva would spank dat ass.
"As long as [Kos] doesn't focus on taking St. Pierre down like he did during their first fight in 2007 — and failing, and failing, and failing — he could keep things competitive"
What fight can you possibly be talking about? Did you even see their first fight?
A) Koscheck didn't train any grappling for the fight, he thought GSP would stand with him, as the glory of GSP's "MMA wrestling" hadn't reached the mythic proportions--and I mean mythic, as there is a seed of truth, but it's been entirely overhyped by fanboys with revisionist blinders--that it has today. If Koscheck's plan at '74 could be said to have a single focus, it would have been on striking.
B) Failing, and failing, and failing? Did you somehow miss the first round? Kos went for one takedown and put GSP on his back, despite Georges grabbing the fence. Kos went 0 for 2 in the third, but you're sacrificing credibility for the sake of clever-cleverness, and you're not even being that clever-clever here. If you want to talk about "failing, and failing, and failing" how can you overlook GSP's pathetic kimura attempt in the second?
Georges is an outstanding, well-rounded fighter and has been both a great champion and an wonderful ambassador for the sport. Conversely, Kos is a douche. He' s not a fan favorite, he doesn't sell PPV's, he's one of the AKA dramasquad, casual dumbfuck fans don't like rematches, and dana wants no part of him as a champion in the UFC...
..but regardless if he wins or loses to Daley, Koscheck is a very competative fight for Georges, and always has been. Other than the first round against Kos, when was the last time you saw GSP even close to losing a round?
Just sayin, gsp's win over kos was less dominant than it was over anyone else he's fought and Kos actually was able to take him down so imo that fight is more appealing than any of the others available right now.
@KillDozer - I would have said the same before the Henderson fight, but (fuck me right in the goat asshole) Shields managed to put Dan Henderson on his back and keep him there. It sucked a big bag of dicks, but it makes me think he would have a decent chance against GSP.
And I call bullshit on the "Shields is a small middleweight" nonsense. He looked to be just as big as Dan when they touched gloves.
As a person who dislikes Kos the n-th degree, I see him being a coach on TUF as his last chance to convince the world that he's not a douche.
On the other hand, I personally think that anyone who was ever a competitor on that show should ever be a coach. But that's me.
Give the damn guy a title shot already.
I'm not a Kos fan but I think he'd at least be more competitive against GSP. I don't want to see another GSP takedown smashfest so soon.
Better??
Ok I am gonna call it GSP by first ever true coaching sweep.