(Koscheck came to Montreal to kick ass and chew bubblegum. Fortunately for Daley, Josh brought plenty of bubblegum.)

Either Josh Koscheck is doing his damndest to keep upcoming opponent Paul Daley guessing about his game plan for their UFC 113 meeting or he has realized that going toe-to-toe with a guy whose hands are nearly as effective at making people’s heads spin and putting them to sleep as a Brent Brookhouse editorial, is not the best idea in the world.

Less than a week away from the May 8 bout in Montreal and Kos is giving ostensibly different answers when asked how he is planning to face "Semtex."


The American Kickboxing Academy fighter told MMAWeekly radio last week that he intends to compare his chin and punching power to Daly’s.

"I’m going to stand toe-to-toe with Paul Daley, and if he can take my punches then maybe we’ll switch the game plan up, but I plan on going out and standing toe-to-toe. There’s no reason for me not to. I’ve been around a long time, I’ve had a lot of fights, and I don’t have a problem standing up with anybody."

"I believe I have just as good of striking as Paul Daley, well maybe not as good, but I can guarantee you I have as much power. That’s for sure," said Koscheck.

Maybe Koscheck changed his tune after re-watching tape of his fight with Paulo Thiago or clips of Daley leaving opponents for dead and decided that the best case scenario for him to ensure he would earn the TUF coaching slot opposite UFC welterweight kingpin Georges St-Piere, would be to take the fight to the canvas. In his UFC.com blog Friday, Koscheck stated that he is now planning on taking Daley down and choking him out in the opening frame.

"So if you’re a betting man, you better go to Vegas right now, and put money on Josh Koscheck because now that the guy has pissed me off, I can guarantee you that I’m gonna go in there and wrestle his ass down and rear naked choke him in round one. There you have it. I’ll probably beat him up a little bit before I choke him out, but in round one, he’s getting choked out. And that’s what he’s gonna have to sleep with over the next week – ‘How the hell am I gonna stop from getting taken down and put on my ass?’"

Sure, most fighters keep their hands close to their chests so they don’t show their opponents their cards before they’re played, but it seems like Josh is beginning to second guess his chances in a stand-up battle with a heavy-hitter like Daley, who boasts a 75 percent knockout ratio.

I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens Saturday night, but I’m guessing Koscheck will not keep the fight standing very long if he can help it.

Hopefully if it does hit the ground, the result will be more ground and pound than lay and pray. It’s getting too warm in Montreal for heavy blankets.