UFC 106: Josh Koscheck Submits Anthony Johnson
11/21/2009 11:58 PM ET By Michael David Smith
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- Michael David Smith
- Michael David Smith is FanHouse's Lead Blogger
Josh Koscheck took on a bigger, stronger, more athletic opponent and used his superior wrestling to defeat him on Saturday night in Las Vegas, submitting
Anthony Johnson with a second-round rear-naked choke in a strange, foul-filled fight at
UFC 106.
Johnson got the better of the stand-up in the early going, and halfway through the first round Koscheck went for a takedown. But while they were on the ground, Johnson landed both an illegal knee to the head and a poke to Koscheck's eye. That led to a lengthy delay during which referee Mario Yamasaki did not appear to know the rules regarding delays for fouls and injuries, but Koscheck did eventually say he could continue, and the fight went on.
In the second round, Koscheck twice threw open-handed shots at Johnson's face and poked Johnson in the eye, causing two more delays in the fight, though neither delay was as long as the one in the first round. After some big shots in the stand-up game from both fighters, Koscheck took Johnson down with three minutes to go in the round, and Koscheck landed elbows that badly cut Johnson's face. Eventually Koscheck got to Johnson's back, sunk in a rear-naked choke, and forced Johnson to tap just before the conclusion of the second round.
Koscheck said afterward that he believes he deserves a shot at UFC welterweight Georges St. Pierre, saying he's better than the current No. 1 contender, Dan Hardy.
"I'm the No. 1 freaking contender in this weight division, right here."
The truth is, Koscheck is not the No. 1 contender, and he's already had his chance at St. Pierre and lost. But if Koscheck wins another fight as impressively as he won Saturday night, he might get another chance at St. Pierre. Koscheck is clearly one of the best welterweights in the world.
MMA FanHouse has UFC 106 results and live UFC 106 Twitter updates.
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UFC 106 Photos
Forrest Griffin kicks Tito Ortiz in the face during their UFC 106 fight on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 in Las Vegas. Click through to see more exclusive photos from UFC 106.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Tito Ortiz is pumped up for his first fight in 18 months at UFC 106 on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin battle on the ground at UFC 106 on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Forrest Griffin contemplates his next move against Tito Ortiz at UFC 106 on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Forrest Griffin kicks Tito Ortiz in the face during their UFC 106 fight on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 in Las Vegas. Click through to see more exclusive photos from UFC 106.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Forrest Griffin takes a breather between rounds during their UFC 106 fight on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Tito Ortiz fights for ground control against Forrest Griffin at UFC 106 on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Forrest Griffin punches Tito Ortiz in the stomach during their UFC 106 fight on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
The referee steps in between the two fighters after they bumped after the second round at UFC 106 on Saturday, November 21, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Forrest Griffin punches Tito Ortiz in the stomach during their UFC 106 fight on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Forrest Griffin attempts to punch Tito Ortiz during their UFC 106 fight on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 in Las Vegas.
Esther Lin, FanHouse
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I love this blog, up to date minute by minute action. How are you on UFC 106?
Josh Koscheck reminding us why he's a fan favorite, very classy in his victory. Lovely how he said Dan Hardy hasn't fought "nobody" when his teammate fought him last week.
Josh is a dirty fighter. We all saw that there was no damage done by the "illegal" knee to the forearm followed by the graze of the right eye, then he proceeded to recover from an early ass kicking by nursing his left eye. Then he actually tried and succeeded in poking johnson's eye. Just plain filthy. Fight Thiago Alves again for a title shot, loser. Wish this cat would disappear.