In a week filled with MMA retirements, add one more to the throng.
Former welterweight title challenger Josh Koscheck announced his official retirement from MMA on The Luke Thomas Show today.
Well, Josh Koscheck just told me he's officially retired on #TLTS.
— Luke Thomas (@lthomasnews) June 28, 2018
Koscheck came to MMA after massively successful collegiate wrestling career that saw him earn Division I All-American honors four times, including winning a national championship. He rose to prominence in MMA after appearing on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter, where in the semifinals he lost a split decision to eventual winner Diego Sanchez.
Koscheck went on to have a very successful MMA career, including a welterweight title shot against Georges St-Pierre at UFC 124. The last few years have been unkind to Koscheck though who has gone 0-6 since 2012, including five stoppage losses. Koscheck said that his inability to continue competing at a high level is ultimately what showed he “didn’t have it” anymore.
“You never know, I might come back some day,” Koscheck said. “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 retires from MMA with 17-11 record, including a 15-10 record in the UFC.