Who will win UFC FIGHT FOR THE TROOPS Josh Koscheck vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida?
- Thread starter Shogun Locc
- Start date
AKA Coaches to Koscheck: Follow Our Plan
Memo from the American Kickboxing Academy to welterweight Josh Koscheck: Unlike your last fight against Thiago Alves, which you lost just six weeks ago at UFC 90, please follow the game plan for your main event bout against Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC Fight Night 16 “Fight for the Troops” this Wednesday at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. You’ll have a better chance of winning if you do so.
“Josh’s biggest strength is his athletic ability and his mind,” says Javier Mendez, who owns AKA in San Jose, Calif., where Koscheck trains. “The area he needs to work on is maybe to listen to his coaches. That’s my biggest critique on him. It would just be nice if I could have his ear a little bit more.”
Mendez was irked that Koscheck failed to execute the game plan AKA coaches developed for him for his Oct. 25 fight against the ferocious Alves, a muay Thai specialist appropriately nicknamed “Pitbull.” Alves used his vicious striking ability, particularly kicks, to win a unanimous decision over a gutsy Koscheck, one of MMA’s best wrestlers -- he’s a former NCAA Division I national champion -- who has developed into a more complete MMA fighter since turning professional in 2004.
“I was pissed,” says Mendez, AKA’s head trainer and a former two-time ISKA world kickboxing champion. “We were supposed to stay on the outside, out of the pocket, fire off first and circle out. Instead, Josh stayed in the pocket and chased him down and got hit. If you watch the fight, he got hit with a lot of leg kicks when he was in the pocket. I couldn’t get to him. I was begging him, ‘Please, I don’t want you staying in; let it go.’ And he couldn’t let it go. He had it in his mind what he wanted to do.”
Alves (16-3), 25, is ranked as the No. 2 welterweight in the world; Koscheck (11-3), 31, is ranked fourth; Yoshida (10-2) -- who comes from a judo background but also has a solid stand-up game, with six knockouts, and dangerous submissions -- is unranked.
Mendez admits even if Koscheck had followed the game plan for Alves, he might not have necessarily won, given that he took the fight on a short two weeks' notice after Alves’ originally scheduled opponent, Diego Sanchez, bowed out due to a rib injury.
“The fight with Alves, I personally would have wanted more time to train specifically for him,” Mendez says. “We knew what he brought to the game, and he didn’t disappoint at all. Personally, I think that guy is a beast. I’m not taking nothing away from him.”
This time out, Mendez hopes Koscheck will follow the blueprints.
“It just depends on Josh [and] how he wants to fight,” Mendez says. “No matter what I tell Josh, he’s gonna fight the way he wants to fight.”
Without revealing too much, Mendez says the strategy for Koscheck’s bout with Yoshida will, in part, involve Koscheck using his explosive wrestling athleticism to take down the Japanese standout and stay on top.
“Yoshida taking Josh down is also possible with the Judo he has behind him,” Mendez says. “The guy’s very explosive on top, so I would imagine we don’t want to be on the bottom of him.”
“Crazy” Bob Cook, head mixed martial arts trainer at AKA, believes Koscheck “is more compact and stronger” than Yoshida and thus, “he’s just gonna go be the physical guy, just go make it a physical fight.”
Another plus for Koscheck, Cook notes, is that he’s “in fantastic shape,” having quickly recovered from the beating he took in the Alves fight.
“He was a little bruised and banged after the last one,” Cook says, “but he’s trained hard, and he’s good to go.”
Another one of Koscheck’s coaches at AKA, Dave Camarillo, who holds black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo, agrees with Cook’s assessment.
“Everybody saw that ‘Kos’ took some damage, but he came back,” Camarillo says. “I wouldn’t call them injuries but just some of the bumps and bruises, and as soon as those healed up, he was much better. Most of this game is mental. A lot of people see those kicks land, but ‘Kos’ is strong mentally. He can take a shot.”
Mendez says Koscheck was back in training for Yoshida just a few days after the Alves fight.
“He took a little vacation with his girlfriend, and he was back in the gym with the bum foot and all,” he says. “I think it was crazy, but he’s a fighter.”
What’s more, Koscheck had already started training for Yoshida when he got the call to fill in for Sanchez against Alves. Even so, Cook says it did not really disrupt his preparation for Yoshida.
“He was always kind of training for the Yoshida fight and never really specifically trained for the Alves fight just ’cause there wasn’t time to,” Cook says. “So I would say this was the fight he’s been training for all along.”
Mendez says that, due to the time crunch, Koscheck’s coaches “didn’t alter his training at all for the Alves fight,” even though Yoshida and Alves are different kinds of fighters. Mendez concedes he was not 100 percent behind Koscheck’s decision to accept the Alves fight on such short notice.
“Basically,” Cook says with a laugh, “the Alves fight was part of Josh’s training [for Yoshida].” Camarillo believes the loss to Alves motivated Koscheck to train better for Yoshida.
“Something clicked after that fight, and I just think we’re getting … even though it’s always 100 percent, that 100 percent is more potent,” Camarillo says. “He’s just more on what he needs to do instead of just coming in here and banging heads.”
Camarillo thinks the change in Koscheck’s approach revolves around his desire not to lose back-to-back fights for the first time in his career.
“Coming off a loss, a fighter can go in two different directions,” he says. “He can come down off a loss and have trouble in his training, or he can turn things around, and that’s exactly what ‘Kos’ did.”
Besides Mendez, Cook and Camarillo, AKA instructor Travis Johnson -- a two-time ISKA United States kickboxing champion -- and AKA regulars Mike Swick and Jon Fitch have helped Koscheck train for Yoshida.
Cook says Koscheck works constantly to improve his kickboxing.
“I know that’s the area that he really wants to be able to excel in,” Cook says, “so he’s very motivated to work on his kickboxing all the time.”
Mendez believes that this time out, unlike for the Alves fight, Koscheck has had more than sufficient time to train.
“For Yoshida, I can honestly say, ‘Yeah, he’s ready,’” he says. “I can’t say, ‘Oh, we need more time.’ Is this one gonna be as exciting as the Alves fight? I’m not sure. But I expect a dominant performance from Josh because he really is getting the idea of how to become a complete MMA fighter.”
Now, if Koscheck will just follow the game plan.
Memo from the American Kickboxing Academy to welterweight Josh Koscheck: Unlike your last fight against Thiago Alves, which you lost just six weeks ago at UFC 90, please follow the game plan for your main event bout against Yoshiyuki Yoshida at UFC Fight Night 16 “Fight for the Troops” this Wednesday at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. You’ll have a better chance of winning if you do so.
“Josh’s biggest strength is his athletic ability and his mind,” says Javier Mendez, who owns AKA in San Jose, Calif., where Koscheck trains. “The area he needs to work on is maybe to listen to his coaches. That’s my biggest critique on him. It would just be nice if I could have his ear a little bit more.”
Mendez was irked that Koscheck failed to execute the game plan AKA coaches developed for him for his Oct. 25 fight against the ferocious Alves, a muay Thai specialist appropriately nicknamed “Pitbull.” Alves used his vicious striking ability, particularly kicks, to win a unanimous decision over a gutsy Koscheck, one of MMA’s best wrestlers -- he’s a former NCAA Division I national champion -- who has developed into a more complete MMA fighter since turning professional in 2004.
“I was pissed,” says Mendez, AKA’s head trainer and a former two-time ISKA world kickboxing champion. “We were supposed to stay on the outside, out of the pocket, fire off first and circle out. Instead, Josh stayed in the pocket and chased him down and got hit. If you watch the fight, he got hit with a lot of leg kicks when he was in the pocket. I couldn’t get to him. I was begging him, ‘Please, I don’t want you staying in; let it go.’ And he couldn’t let it go. He had it in his mind what he wanted to do.”
Alves (16-3), 25, is ranked as the No. 2 welterweight in the world; Koscheck (11-3), 31, is ranked fourth; Yoshida (10-2) -- who comes from a judo background but also has a solid stand-up game, with six knockouts, and dangerous submissions -- is unranked.
Mendez admits even if Koscheck had followed the game plan for Alves, he might not have necessarily won, given that he took the fight on a short two weeks' notice after Alves’ originally scheduled opponent, Diego Sanchez, bowed out due to a rib injury.
“The fight with Alves, I personally would have wanted more time to train specifically for him,” Mendez says. “We knew what he brought to the game, and he didn’t disappoint at all. Personally, I think that guy is a beast. I’m not taking nothing away from him.”
This time out, Mendez hopes Koscheck will follow the blueprints.
“It just depends on Josh [and] how he wants to fight,” Mendez says. “No matter what I tell Josh, he’s gonna fight the way he wants to fight.”
Without revealing too much, Mendez says the strategy for Koscheck’s bout with Yoshida will, in part, involve Koscheck using his explosive wrestling athleticism to take down the Japanese standout and stay on top.
“Yoshida taking Josh down is also possible with the Judo he has behind him,” Mendez says. “The guy’s very explosive on top, so I would imagine we don’t want to be on the bottom of him.”
“Crazy” Bob Cook, head mixed martial arts trainer at AKA, believes Koscheck “is more compact and stronger” than Yoshida and thus, “he’s just gonna go be the physical guy, just go make it a physical fight.”
Another plus for Koscheck, Cook notes, is that he’s “in fantastic shape,” having quickly recovered from the beating he took in the Alves fight.
“He was a little bruised and banged after the last one,” Cook says, “but he’s trained hard, and he’s good to go.”
Another one of Koscheck’s coaches at AKA, Dave Camarillo, who holds black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo, agrees with Cook’s assessment.
“Everybody saw that ‘Kos’ took some damage, but he came back,” Camarillo says. “I wouldn’t call them injuries but just some of the bumps and bruises, and as soon as those healed up, he was much better. Most of this game is mental. A lot of people see those kicks land, but ‘Kos’ is strong mentally. He can take a shot.”
Mendez says Koscheck was back in training for Yoshida just a few days after the Alves fight.
“He took a little vacation with his girlfriend, and he was back in the gym with the bum foot and all,” he says. “I think it was crazy, but he’s a fighter.”
What’s more, Koscheck had already started training for Yoshida when he got the call to fill in for Sanchez against Alves. Even so, Cook says it did not really disrupt his preparation for Yoshida.
“He was always kind of training for the Yoshida fight and never really specifically trained for the Alves fight just ’cause there wasn’t time to,” Cook says. “So I would say this was the fight he’s been training for all along.”
Mendez says that, due to the time crunch, Koscheck’s coaches “didn’t alter his training at all for the Alves fight,” even though Yoshida and Alves are different kinds of fighters. Mendez concedes he was not 100 percent behind Koscheck’s decision to accept the Alves fight on such short notice.
“Basically,” Cook says with a laugh, “the Alves fight was part of Josh’s training [for Yoshida].” Camarillo believes the loss to Alves motivated Koscheck to train better for Yoshida.
“Something clicked after that fight, and I just think we’re getting … even though it’s always 100 percent, that 100 percent is more potent,” Camarillo says. “He’s just more on what he needs to do instead of just coming in here and banging heads.”
Camarillo thinks the change in Koscheck’s approach revolves around his desire not to lose back-to-back fights for the first time in his career.
“Coming off a loss, a fighter can go in two different directions,” he says. “He can come down off a loss and have trouble in his training, or he can turn things around, and that’s exactly what ‘Kos’ did.”
Besides Mendez, Cook and Camarillo, AKA instructor Travis Johnson -- a two-time ISKA United States kickboxing champion -- and AKA regulars Mike Swick and Jon Fitch have helped Koscheck train for Yoshida.
Cook says Koscheck works constantly to improve his kickboxing.
“I know that’s the area that he really wants to be able to excel in,” Cook says, “so he’s very motivated to work on his kickboxing all the time.”
Mendez believes that this time out, unlike for the Alves fight, Koscheck has had more than sufficient time to train.
“For Yoshida, I can honestly say, ‘Yeah, he’s ready,’” he says. “I can’t say, ‘Oh, we need more time.’ Is this one gonna be as exciting as the Alves fight? I’m not sure. But I expect a dominant performance from Josh because he really is getting the idea of how to become a complete MMA fighter.”
Now, if Koscheck will just follow the game plan.
YOSHIYUKI YOSHIDA READY TO SURPRISE KOSCHECK
For Japanese judoka Yoshiyuki Yoshida, the excitement to finally get his second fight in the Octagon is about to hit a fever pitch. He will headline the upcoming UFC Fight for the Troops card on Dec. 10 in Fayetteville, N.C. against Josh Koscheck.
After Karo Parisyan was forced out of their scheduled bout at UFC 88 in September just 24 hours away from the bout, Yoshida had to face disappointment instead of a challenge, but he remained hopeful for a big fight in his future.
"It was really hard. I trained very hard for that fight and of course I cut weight for that fight. So if I have a chance, I do like to ask Karo how is he doing though, but since I am not the one who pulled out of that fight, I believe I had a right to fight first (before Karo), and UFC did make a fight for me, so I really appreciate that," Yoshida told MMAWeekly.com in an exclusive interview.
"This (opponent canceling the fight) also does happen a lot in an intense sport like MMA, so I am not thinking too much about it anymore. I just wait for UFC to decide my opponent and I train hard to win that fight. That's all now."
His new opponent, Josh Koscheck, took a fight on short notice against Thiago Alves at UFC 90, which could have caused a problem for the Dec. 10 fight, but everything worked out and Yoshida will still face the American Kickboxing Academy fighter.
"First of all, I would like to say thank you to Josh Koscheck for taking this fight," Yoshida stated. "Ever since I was told that my next opponent is Koscheck, for the past two months or so, I have been training thinking about just fighting Koscheck. Physical strength, wrestling, and boxing - I believe, in those departments, Koscheck is better than me, so I have been working hard on that."
In this fight, Yoshida will face not only a Top 5 welterweight, but also a very physically strong wrestler that will demand his every attention.
"Ever since I signed with the UFC, I am ready to fight anybody. For me this is nothing but a huge opportunity," said Yoshida of facing Koscheck. " I would like to use my brain to fight. By utilizing (my) opponent's strength to win the fight, that is the magical formula of judo."
The other opportunity that Yoshida relishes is the chance to headline a major UFC event in only his second fight, but he remains humble as well.
"I really appreciate this opportunity UFC has created for me, but this fight is a headliner because Koscheck is a very popular fighter," Yoshida commented. "And of course, he is one of the Top 10 welterweights in the world, and I am sure most people won't even think about me winning this fight. But I am telling you this now, you are going to be surprised by the outcome of fight!"
And what is Yoshida's prediction for the way the fight will finish?
"I know it's going to be a tough fight. But I want to win and survive in this very deep UFC welterweight division," Yoshida said. "And of course, I would like to finish the fight with a judo move."
He also mentioned his sponsors that keep him going during the training and preparation for this upcoming fight against Koscheck.
"I would like to thank my sponsors. Sprawl has been so great with me from the day one. I am very proud to be wearing Sprawl to fight in the UFC. Also, I would like to thank Manto, CondomDepot.com, BudoVideo.com, GymSoap.com, Everybodygreen.com, and Simullingua translation services for their endless support."
For Japanese judoka Yoshiyuki Yoshida, the excitement to finally get his second fight in the Octagon is about to hit a fever pitch. He will headline the upcoming UFC Fight for the Troops card on Dec. 10 in Fayetteville, N.C. against Josh Koscheck.
After Karo Parisyan was forced out of their scheduled bout at UFC 88 in September just 24 hours away from the bout, Yoshida had to face disappointment instead of a challenge, but he remained hopeful for a big fight in his future.
"It was really hard. I trained very hard for that fight and of course I cut weight for that fight. So if I have a chance, I do like to ask Karo how is he doing though, but since I am not the one who pulled out of that fight, I believe I had a right to fight first (before Karo), and UFC did make a fight for me, so I really appreciate that," Yoshida told MMAWeekly.com in an exclusive interview.
"This (opponent canceling the fight) also does happen a lot in an intense sport like MMA, so I am not thinking too much about it anymore. I just wait for UFC to decide my opponent and I train hard to win that fight. That's all now."
His new opponent, Josh Koscheck, took a fight on short notice against Thiago Alves at UFC 90, which could have caused a problem for the Dec. 10 fight, but everything worked out and Yoshida will still face the American Kickboxing Academy fighter.
"First of all, I would like to say thank you to Josh Koscheck for taking this fight," Yoshida stated. "Ever since I was told that my next opponent is Koscheck, for the past two months or so, I have been training thinking about just fighting Koscheck. Physical strength, wrestling, and boxing - I believe, in those departments, Koscheck is better than me, so I have been working hard on that."
In this fight, Yoshida will face not only a Top 5 welterweight, but also a very physically strong wrestler that will demand his every attention.
"Ever since I signed with the UFC, I am ready to fight anybody. For me this is nothing but a huge opportunity," said Yoshida of facing Koscheck. " I would like to use my brain to fight. By utilizing (my) opponent's strength to win the fight, that is the magical formula of judo."
The other opportunity that Yoshida relishes is the chance to headline a major UFC event in only his second fight, but he remains humble as well.
"I really appreciate this opportunity UFC has created for me, but this fight is a headliner because Koscheck is a very popular fighter," Yoshida commented. "And of course, he is one of the Top 10 welterweights in the world, and I am sure most people won't even think about me winning this fight. But I am telling you this now, you are going to be surprised by the outcome of fight!"
And what is Yoshida's prediction for the way the fight will finish?
"I know it's going to be a tough fight. But I want to win and survive in this very deep UFC welterweight division," Yoshida said. "And of course, I would like to finish the fight with a judo move."
He also mentioned his sponsors that keep him going during the training and preparation for this upcoming fight against Koscheck.
"I would like to thank my sponsors. Sprawl has been so great with me from the day one. I am very proud to be wearing Sprawl to fight in the UFC. Also, I would like to thank Manto, CondomDepot.com, BudoVideo.com, GymSoap.com, Everybodygreen.com, and Simullingua translation services for their endless support."
KOSCHECK LASERED IN ON YOSHIDA, NOTHING ELSE
Having earned a particular reputation coming out of the first season of the "Ultimate Fighter", Josh Koscheck has worked extra hard to help turn around opinions on what people perceived as a cocky kid with an extra dose of attitude for anyone who would listen. Now that perceived reputation is that of a hard worker who is willing to take the biggest fights against the toughest opponents in the UFC.
That reputation got even more respect from fans and critics from around the world when Koscheck stepped up on short notice to go to battle with Thiago Alves in October. Facing a top five welterweight can sometimes keep a fighter from putting pen to paper on a contract, but Koscheck didn't flinch and although he lost the bout he has no regrets in taking the fight.
But because of the three round war with Alves, the questions began immediately if he would be able to fight just 2 months later against Japanese Judoka, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, at the UFC "Fight for the Troops" show in North Carolina.
"I took a lot of kicks so my legs were pretty beat up," Koscheck told MMAWeekly Radio recently about his condition after the Alves fight. "I had a couple little small nagging injuries, but that's just life and that's life being a fighter and life of somebody who trains for a living."
Immediately, Koscheck was back in camp without hesitation to get that loss off his mind and step back in with top competition.
"I think it's a good match-up," Koscheck said about his fight against Yoshida. "He's definitely well rounded, I wouldn't say he's just a judo fighter. His first fight in the UFC he submitted his opponent, so I think it's a good match-up. I think the fans should expect an exciting and entertaining fight. Hopefully on both parts."
Koscheck has dealt with everything from stand-up fighters to other wrestlers to submission specialists throughout his career, but Yoshida is a different kind of animal when it comes to judo. Despite that expertise, Koscheck is confident that he will be able to impose his will on his opponent regardless of the judo pedigree.
"One of our coaches, Dave Camarillo, is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and judo so it's definitely good to have him in my corner, in my camp. Knowing strategy on what judo players do, and things like that so for me I try to focus on what I do and that's wrestling and striking," commented Koscheck. "Hopefully, I can step up and finish this fight early."
While admittedly with only one fight in the UFC, Yoshiyuki Yoshida comes in with a wealth of experience and respect from other fighters coming into this bout and Koscheck understands that a win over an opponent like this puts him right back in the top contender's hunt.
"I definitely think it will put me back in the mix," Koscheck said about the fight. "He is a tough opponent. Not very man people know of him in the United States, but he's definitely a tough opponent, and I'm not really concerned about rankings. I just want to fight the best guys and just get out there and show that I am training my butt off in the gym every week and just put on good fights for the fans."
This will be another tough test for Koscheck, but even more so because he is coming off of a loss, but the former NCAA wrestling champion always seems to react well in those situations. In his previous 2 losses, Koscheck has come back stronger both times, submitting one opponent and knocking the other one out.
"I hope that's the case this time too," Koscheck stated about his ability to bounce back after a loss. "I really don't know what it is, I'm not one that likes to lose in anything so it definitely motivates me to train harder, it motivates me to stay in the gym and stay busy so I'm not one for liking to lose."
One other hot topic on everyone's mind when it comes to Josh Koscheck was the situation surrounding the exit and subsequent re-entry of teammate Jon Fitch, after a contract dispute between the promotion and his fight management group. Still, the former "Ultimate Fighter" cast member, says he has no comment about that deal and is only focused on one thing.
"I’m focused on fighting Yoshida on Dec 10th, that's all I really care about. I'm not talking about that, I'm focused on fighting, I have a big fight coming up and that's my priority."
Having earned a particular reputation coming out of the first season of the "Ultimate Fighter", Josh Koscheck has worked extra hard to help turn around opinions on what people perceived as a cocky kid with an extra dose of attitude for anyone who would listen. Now that perceived reputation is that of a hard worker who is willing to take the biggest fights against the toughest opponents in the UFC.
That reputation got even more respect from fans and critics from around the world when Koscheck stepped up on short notice to go to battle with Thiago Alves in October. Facing a top five welterweight can sometimes keep a fighter from putting pen to paper on a contract, but Koscheck didn't flinch and although he lost the bout he has no regrets in taking the fight.
But because of the three round war with Alves, the questions began immediately if he would be able to fight just 2 months later against Japanese Judoka, Yoshiyuki Yoshida, at the UFC "Fight for the Troops" show in North Carolina.
"I took a lot of kicks so my legs were pretty beat up," Koscheck told MMAWeekly Radio recently about his condition after the Alves fight. "I had a couple little small nagging injuries, but that's just life and that's life being a fighter and life of somebody who trains for a living."
Immediately, Koscheck was back in camp without hesitation to get that loss off his mind and step back in with top competition.
"I think it's a good match-up," Koscheck said about his fight against Yoshida. "He's definitely well rounded, I wouldn't say he's just a judo fighter. His first fight in the UFC he submitted his opponent, so I think it's a good match-up. I think the fans should expect an exciting and entertaining fight. Hopefully on both parts."
Koscheck has dealt with everything from stand-up fighters to other wrestlers to submission specialists throughout his career, but Yoshida is a different kind of animal when it comes to judo. Despite that expertise, Koscheck is confident that he will be able to impose his will on his opponent regardless of the judo pedigree.
"One of our coaches, Dave Camarillo, is a black belt in jiu-jitsu and judo so it's definitely good to have him in my corner, in my camp. Knowing strategy on what judo players do, and things like that so for me I try to focus on what I do and that's wrestling and striking," commented Koscheck. "Hopefully, I can step up and finish this fight early."
While admittedly with only one fight in the UFC, Yoshiyuki Yoshida comes in with a wealth of experience and respect from other fighters coming into this bout and Koscheck understands that a win over an opponent like this puts him right back in the top contender's hunt.
"I definitely think it will put me back in the mix," Koscheck said about the fight. "He is a tough opponent. Not very man people know of him in the United States, but he's definitely a tough opponent, and I'm not really concerned about rankings. I just want to fight the best guys and just get out there and show that I am training my butt off in the gym every week and just put on good fights for the fans."
This will be another tough test for Koscheck, but even more so because he is coming off of a loss, but the former NCAA wrestling champion always seems to react well in those situations. In his previous 2 losses, Koscheck has come back stronger both times, submitting one opponent and knocking the other one out.
"I hope that's the case this time too," Koscheck stated about his ability to bounce back after a loss. "I really don't know what it is, I'm not one that likes to lose in anything so it definitely motivates me to train harder, it motivates me to stay in the gym and stay busy so I'm not one for liking to lose."
One other hot topic on everyone's mind when it comes to Josh Koscheck was the situation surrounding the exit and subsequent re-entry of teammate Jon Fitch, after a contract dispute between the promotion and his fight management group. Still, the former "Ultimate Fighter" cast member, says he has no comment about that deal and is only focused on one thing.
"I’m focused on fighting Yoshida on Dec 10th, that's all I really care about. I'm not talking about that, I'm focused on fighting, I have a big fight coming up and that's my priority."
Yoshida Sees Test, Opportunity in Koscheck
“Take a look at the replay and talk us through the finish of the fight.”
Though UFC pay-per-view analyst Joe Rogan’s words were simple, familiar English, they were quite foreign to Yoshiyuki Yoshida.
“Oh,” mumbled Yoshida, uncertain as to what Rogan wanted him to do.
“Or not,” Rogan said after a long, uncomfortable silence. “That’s what we call the anaconda choke.”
With the interview having gone south, Rogan finished quickly and told Yoshida’s manager, Shu Hirata, “Well, please tell him congratulations and, uh, we look forward to seeing him again.”
Yoshida’s eyes lit up, as he finally caught the gist of Rogan’s words, to which he replied in Japanese, “Yes, I will return.”
Yoshida (10-2) -- a winner in nine straight bouts -- posed for the home viewing audience and flashed a gold octagon-shaped medallion with his name in kanji encircled within it.
The sequence of events was not at all unexpected and made for some awkward but endearing comedy at the expense of the gentleman from Japan. Displaying martial prowess, a penchant for oversized jewelry and little command of English or UFC post-fight procedure, Yoshida fit well into Western stereotypes of Japanese mixed martial artists.
Westerners tend to expect the fun-loving Dokonjonosuke Mishimas or go-for-broke charismatics like Rumina Sato to show incontrovertible evidence that all Japanese men are “samurai.” In cases in which they do not, people tend to think Japanese fighters should be offbeat and crafty, like a Masakazu Imanari or a Genki Sudo. After all, Japan’s that magical place of multi-colored spandex pants, giant robots and schoolgirl ninjas.
Madman’s protégé
Yoshida’s a hip-hop fan and former physical education teacher turned full-time fighter.
“It was too bad I had to give it up, but to be a UFC fighter, you need to sacrifice,” Yoshida says. “I’d love to return to teaching someday, but not as a school teacher. I just want to teach judo.”
Finding a full-time fighter in Japan is rare, unless said competitor happens to be a mainstay of a large promotion. As many have learned, training full-time is a must in order to compete at the sport’s highest levels, but most fighters in Japan cannot afford to do so. For the majority hacking it on the grassroots circuit, much like Yoshida before his UFC jaunt, bussing tables by day only to train at night is a sobering reality of combat sports.
Yoshida now has the luxury of being able to spend the better part of his days in the gym perfecting his craft. However, that’s not the only trait that sets him apart from the majority of his Japanese peers. Yoshida also trains in ways that seem more akin to the mentalities and regimens of Western fighters.
A far cry from the overtraining seen in many traditional Japanese martial artists and gyms, Yoshida does not spar with the intent to kill or be killed two weeks short of a fight. Instead, he works timing and precision, much the way professional boxers do. He also does not engage in non-essential hard workouts just days before competing, as he has adopted strictly scheduled plyometrics drills and circuit training. Yoshida also invests in peaking and maintaining his level of fitness before the bout, rather than wearing himself down to an injury-prone husk come fight time.
Yoshida cut his teeth in Greatest Common Multiple’s cage-based D.O.G. and Cage Force promotions. In a country where the cage is virtually non-existent, it’s no wonder he has become one of the country’s premier Japanese cage fighters.
“I think the experience in the cage made a big difference for me. All that time in the cage made me stronger,” Yoshida says. “I feel like I adapted to it quickly because I didn't have much experience fighting in a ring. Fighters who fight often in the ring adapt their styles to it, making it difficult to adapt to the cage later. Also, for any fighter debuting in the cage, what’s important and often overlooked are wrestling skills. Regarding elbows, I always use them during training, as well, so that's why I’ve adapted to using them.”
While Yoshida’s cage savvy is refreshing for a Japanese fighter, its roots run deeper than his innate talents. Before he became Yoshida the Cage Fighter, Yoshida the judoka had to get his MMA game from somewhere.
“In transitioning from Judo, everything I learned about MMA I learned from [Noboru Asahi],” Yoshida says.
“Kijin” Asahi holds distinction as a Japanese MMA forefather. Having debuted in Shooto in 1990, he was the promotion’s 143-pound champion for seven years, until he relinquished the title to Alexandre Franca Nogueira just before he hung up the gloves in favor of teaching and painting.
Off the record, Asahi’s easy-going and exuberant in sharing his ideas and opinions. He jumps from topic to topic at a steady pace, like the themes and subjects of his paintings. His small gym on the outskirts of the capital city is equal parts martial arts workshop and art gallery, hosting classic Shooto posters and his own paintings, the latest of which features caricatures of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson and Gina Carano. Asahi thinks both are “outstanding characters.”
Tokyo Yellow Mans is much more than a musty room where fighters beat on each other every day. Asahi’s renditions of a punching Slice rest between the faded posters advertising Shooto world title bouts at Tokyo Bay NK Hall, the hastily sketched grinning suns, the spirals and food items strewn across the tops of the surrounding wall padding, the thickly brushed black outlines and the dollops of red and white paint; it’s one of the most visually engaging gyms in the country.
It’s in this setting that Yoshida spends his days training under the charismatic instruction of a self-professed -- but enlightened -- madman.
September’s UFC 88 was supposed to be the second time fans got to see Yoshida in the Octagon, but because of the last-minute withdrawal of opponent Karo Parisyan, it never happened.
“Simply put, it was unfortunate. I don't want to get into whether he was really injured or not,” says Yoshida, touching on rumors that Parisyan withdrew for reasons other than injury. “When he recovers and is ready, I’d like to fight him.”
Parisyan would have been Yoshida’s stiffest test to date and a barometer by which to measure his standing within the UFC’s most competitive division. After the fight fell through, however, the UFC saw fit to reward Yoshida with a main event spot for his next fight. The catch? It would come against an even more formidable challenge in Josh Koscheck.
“I’m really surprised that I’m already in the main event for what’s only my second UFC fight,” Yoshida says, “but I think that maybe it’s just because I’m fighting Josh Koscheck.”
Yoshida will face Koscheck (11-3) in the UFC Fight Night 16 main event at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C., this Wednesday. Proceeds from the event will benefit the United States military. Given Yoshida’s status as a foreigner, it puts him in a unique position in front of a patriotic crowd.
“Obviously, I realize I’ll get booed and stuff,” Yoshida says. “Luckily, I don’t understand much English, so the comments that fans might make that night won’t bother me.”
Koscheck’s a handful without a crowd in his corner. The 31-year-old has lost only twice -- to reigning champion Georges St. Pierre and No. 1 contender Thiago Alves -- in his past nine fights.
“I think he’s a great athlete, extremely strong physically and, obviously, a great wrestler,” Yoshida says. “I was watching his last fight [with Alves] the other day, and I think his boxing has vastly improved, too. He’s getting better all the time.”
‘I’m no pushover’
Regarding Koscheck’s last-minute decision to replace Diego Sanchez against Alves -- a bout he agreed to take in the middle of training for Yoshida -- at UFC 90, Yoshida still respects the American Kickboxing Academy welterweight.
“I thought he was really brave to agree to the Alves bout so late,” Yoshida says. “What it meant to me is that Koscheck is someone who is always ready to fight, that he’s always in top condition. While I do think he kind of took me lightly by taking that fight, it was a big opportunity for him to fight Alves. Besides, I can always show him I’m no pushover when we fight.”
Yoshida’s comments come off as charitable, considering he would have once again been left in the lurch had Koscheck been knocked out or injured. That bridge never had to be crossed. However, recent events that led to the Jon Fitch’s release and re-signing and the resulting fracture between UFC President Dana White and AKA seemed to indicate other fighters at the San Jose, Calif., gym were on the chopping block. While reports indicate Koscheck was still promised Yoshida, he remains one of the few AKA fighters not to relinquish his likeness for the planned UFC video game.
Not surprisingly, Yoshida was unaware of the situation and how it could have affected the match and Koscheck’s future after it.
While Yoshida respects the American’s pedigree, he sees some weaknesses.
“I haven’t seen him fight much off of his back,” he says, “so I think that if I can put him there, I might have the advantage.”
Yoshida expects his Koscheck to be prepared.
“I’m sure he’s training his ground game just as hard as everything else, so I’m not certain if he’s more susceptible to submissions or strikes on the ground,” he says. “All that I know is that I want to take the top position and win this fight there.”
Yoshida remains one of the few Japanese fighters whose gaze stretches beyond his homeland, enabling him to acknowledge the strength and standing of competitors abroad.
“Koscheck’s a perennial top fiver in the welterweight division,” he says. “For me to be able to fight him in just my second UFC fight is a great opportunity for me, so I must be sure I fully take advantage of this chance. I’ve only been able to come as far as I have by doing exactly that. I’d like my fight with Koscheck to be just the same way.”
Yoshida’s one of only two Japanese fighters -- middleweight Yushin Okami is the other -- currently in the UFC. While Okami has enjoyed success inside the Octagon, many of his countrymen have not. Yoshida’s stock jumped after his dominating win over War Machine at UFC 84 in May. Still, he believes the pressure falls squarely on Koscheck’s shoulders at UFC Fight Night 16.
“I don’t particularly believe that I’ve been successful just yet, so there’s no pressure on me at all,” Yoshida says. “I just want to make sure that whatever chances I get, I focus on getting the results I need to get ahead. I don’t know what the future will hold, so I want to take things fight by fight.”
“Take a look at the replay and talk us through the finish of the fight.”
Though UFC pay-per-view analyst Joe Rogan’s words were simple, familiar English, they were quite foreign to Yoshiyuki Yoshida.
“Oh,” mumbled Yoshida, uncertain as to what Rogan wanted him to do.
“Or not,” Rogan said after a long, uncomfortable silence. “That’s what we call the anaconda choke.”
With the interview having gone south, Rogan finished quickly and told Yoshida’s manager, Shu Hirata, “Well, please tell him congratulations and, uh, we look forward to seeing him again.”
Yoshida’s eyes lit up, as he finally caught the gist of Rogan’s words, to which he replied in Japanese, “Yes, I will return.”
Yoshida (10-2) -- a winner in nine straight bouts -- posed for the home viewing audience and flashed a gold octagon-shaped medallion with his name in kanji encircled within it.
The sequence of events was not at all unexpected and made for some awkward but endearing comedy at the expense of the gentleman from Japan. Displaying martial prowess, a penchant for oversized jewelry and little command of English or UFC post-fight procedure, Yoshida fit well into Western stereotypes of Japanese mixed martial artists.
Westerners tend to expect the fun-loving Dokonjonosuke Mishimas or go-for-broke charismatics like Rumina Sato to show incontrovertible evidence that all Japanese men are “samurai.” In cases in which they do not, people tend to think Japanese fighters should be offbeat and crafty, like a Masakazu Imanari or a Genki Sudo. After all, Japan’s that magical place of multi-colored spandex pants, giant robots and schoolgirl ninjas.
Madman’s protégé
Yoshida’s a hip-hop fan and former physical education teacher turned full-time fighter.
“It was too bad I had to give it up, but to be a UFC fighter, you need to sacrifice,” Yoshida says. “I’d love to return to teaching someday, but not as a school teacher. I just want to teach judo.”
Finding a full-time fighter in Japan is rare, unless said competitor happens to be a mainstay of a large promotion. As many have learned, training full-time is a must in order to compete at the sport’s highest levels, but most fighters in Japan cannot afford to do so. For the majority hacking it on the grassroots circuit, much like Yoshida before his UFC jaunt, bussing tables by day only to train at night is a sobering reality of combat sports.
Yoshida now has the luxury of being able to spend the better part of his days in the gym perfecting his craft. However, that’s not the only trait that sets him apart from the majority of his Japanese peers. Yoshida also trains in ways that seem more akin to the mentalities and regimens of Western fighters.
A far cry from the overtraining seen in many traditional Japanese martial artists and gyms, Yoshida does not spar with the intent to kill or be killed two weeks short of a fight. Instead, he works timing and precision, much the way professional boxers do. He also does not engage in non-essential hard workouts just days before competing, as he has adopted strictly scheduled plyometrics drills and circuit training. Yoshida also invests in peaking and maintaining his level of fitness before the bout, rather than wearing himself down to an injury-prone husk come fight time.
Yoshida cut his teeth in Greatest Common Multiple’s cage-based D.O.G. and Cage Force promotions. In a country where the cage is virtually non-existent, it’s no wonder he has become one of the country’s premier Japanese cage fighters.
“I think the experience in the cage made a big difference for me. All that time in the cage made me stronger,” Yoshida says. “I feel like I adapted to it quickly because I didn't have much experience fighting in a ring. Fighters who fight often in the ring adapt their styles to it, making it difficult to adapt to the cage later. Also, for any fighter debuting in the cage, what’s important and often overlooked are wrestling skills. Regarding elbows, I always use them during training, as well, so that's why I’ve adapted to using them.”
While Yoshida’s cage savvy is refreshing for a Japanese fighter, its roots run deeper than his innate talents. Before he became Yoshida the Cage Fighter, Yoshida the judoka had to get his MMA game from somewhere.
“In transitioning from Judo, everything I learned about MMA I learned from [Noboru Asahi],” Yoshida says.
“Kijin” Asahi holds distinction as a Japanese MMA forefather. Having debuted in Shooto in 1990, he was the promotion’s 143-pound champion for seven years, until he relinquished the title to Alexandre Franca Nogueira just before he hung up the gloves in favor of teaching and painting.
Off the record, Asahi’s easy-going and exuberant in sharing his ideas and opinions. He jumps from topic to topic at a steady pace, like the themes and subjects of his paintings. His small gym on the outskirts of the capital city is equal parts martial arts workshop and art gallery, hosting classic Shooto posters and his own paintings, the latest of which features caricatures of Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson and Gina Carano. Asahi thinks both are “outstanding characters.”
Tokyo Yellow Mans is much more than a musty room where fighters beat on each other every day. Asahi’s renditions of a punching Slice rest between the faded posters advertising Shooto world title bouts at Tokyo Bay NK Hall, the hastily sketched grinning suns, the spirals and food items strewn across the tops of the surrounding wall padding, the thickly brushed black outlines and the dollops of red and white paint; it’s one of the most visually engaging gyms in the country.
It’s in this setting that Yoshida spends his days training under the charismatic instruction of a self-professed -- but enlightened -- madman.
September’s UFC 88 was supposed to be the second time fans got to see Yoshida in the Octagon, but because of the last-minute withdrawal of opponent Karo Parisyan, it never happened.
“Simply put, it was unfortunate. I don't want to get into whether he was really injured or not,” says Yoshida, touching on rumors that Parisyan withdrew for reasons other than injury. “When he recovers and is ready, I’d like to fight him.”
Parisyan would have been Yoshida’s stiffest test to date and a barometer by which to measure his standing within the UFC’s most competitive division. After the fight fell through, however, the UFC saw fit to reward Yoshida with a main event spot for his next fight. The catch? It would come against an even more formidable challenge in Josh Koscheck.
“I’m really surprised that I’m already in the main event for what’s only my second UFC fight,” Yoshida says, “but I think that maybe it’s just because I’m fighting Josh Koscheck.”
Yoshida will face Koscheck (11-3) in the UFC Fight Night 16 main event at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C., this Wednesday. Proceeds from the event will benefit the United States military. Given Yoshida’s status as a foreigner, it puts him in a unique position in front of a patriotic crowd.
“Obviously, I realize I’ll get booed and stuff,” Yoshida says. “Luckily, I don’t understand much English, so the comments that fans might make that night won’t bother me.”
Koscheck’s a handful without a crowd in his corner. The 31-year-old has lost only twice -- to reigning champion Georges St. Pierre and No. 1 contender Thiago Alves -- in his past nine fights.
“I think he’s a great athlete, extremely strong physically and, obviously, a great wrestler,” Yoshida says. “I was watching his last fight [with Alves] the other day, and I think his boxing has vastly improved, too. He’s getting better all the time.”
‘I’m no pushover’
Regarding Koscheck’s last-minute decision to replace Diego Sanchez against Alves -- a bout he agreed to take in the middle of training for Yoshida -- at UFC 90, Yoshida still respects the American Kickboxing Academy welterweight.
“I thought he was really brave to agree to the Alves bout so late,” Yoshida says. “What it meant to me is that Koscheck is someone who is always ready to fight, that he’s always in top condition. While I do think he kind of took me lightly by taking that fight, it was a big opportunity for him to fight Alves. Besides, I can always show him I’m no pushover when we fight.”
Yoshida’s comments come off as charitable, considering he would have once again been left in the lurch had Koscheck been knocked out or injured. That bridge never had to be crossed. However, recent events that led to the Jon Fitch’s release and re-signing and the resulting fracture between UFC President Dana White and AKA seemed to indicate other fighters at the San Jose, Calif., gym were on the chopping block. While reports indicate Koscheck was still promised Yoshida, he remains one of the few AKA fighters not to relinquish his likeness for the planned UFC video game.
Not surprisingly, Yoshida was unaware of the situation and how it could have affected the match and Koscheck’s future after it.
While Yoshida respects the American’s pedigree, he sees some weaknesses.
“I haven’t seen him fight much off of his back,” he says, “so I think that if I can put him there, I might have the advantage.”
Yoshida expects his Koscheck to be prepared.
“I’m sure he’s training his ground game just as hard as everything else, so I’m not certain if he’s more susceptible to submissions or strikes on the ground,” he says. “All that I know is that I want to take the top position and win this fight there.”
Yoshida remains one of the few Japanese fighters whose gaze stretches beyond his homeland, enabling him to acknowledge the strength and standing of competitors abroad.
“Koscheck’s a perennial top fiver in the welterweight division,” he says. “For me to be able to fight him in just my second UFC fight is a great opportunity for me, so I must be sure I fully take advantage of this chance. I’ve only been able to come as far as I have by doing exactly that. I’d like my fight with Koscheck to be just the same way.”
Yoshida’s one of only two Japanese fighters -- middleweight Yushin Okami is the other -- currently in the UFC. While Okami has enjoyed success inside the Octagon, many of his countrymen have not. Yoshida’s stock jumped after his dominating win over War Machine at UFC 84 in May. Still, he believes the pressure falls squarely on Koscheck’s shoulders at UFC Fight Night 16.
“I don’t particularly believe that I’ve been successful just yet, so there’s no pressure on me at all,” Yoshida says. “I just want to make sure that whatever chances I get, I focus on getting the results I need to get ahead. I don’t know what the future will hold, so I want to take things fight by fight.”
FIGHTERS WEIGH IN FOR UFC FIGHT FOR THE TROOPS
The athletes for Wednesday night's UFC Fight for the Troops weighed in on Tuesday and the fight card is now official. The event takes place at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. and airs live on Spike TV at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET.
The main event features Top 10 welterweight Josh Koscheck squaring off with Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Koscheck is looking to put a loss to Thiago Alves at UFC 90 behind him, while Yoshida makes his first start in the Octagon since defeating Jon "War Machine" Koppenhaver at UFC 84.
Mike Swick will be looking to clearly establish himself in the UFC welterweight division as he faces tough Canadian Jonathan Goulet.
Brodie Farber and Luigi Fioravanti, originally slated for a welterweight contest, agreed to fight at a catch weight of 173 pounds.
Main Event
Josh Koscheck (171) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (171)
Jonathan Goulet (171) vs. Mike Swick (171)
Razak Al-Hassan (205) vs. Steve Cantwell (206)
Matt Wiman (156) vs. Jim Miller (156)
Brodie Farber (174) vs. Luigi Fioravanti (173.5)
Johnny Rees (169) vs. Steve Bruno (171)
Brandon Wolff (170) vs. Ben Saunders (170)
Nate Loughran (185) vs. Tim Credeur (186)
Dale Hartt (156) vs. Corey Hill (155)
Justin McCully (228) vs. Eddie Sanchez (246)
The athletes for Wednesday night's UFC Fight for the Troops weighed in on Tuesday and the fight card is now official. The event takes place at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, N.C. and airs live on Spike TV at 6 p.m. PT / 9 p.m. ET.
The main event features Top 10 welterweight Josh Koscheck squaring off with Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Koscheck is looking to put a loss to Thiago Alves at UFC 90 behind him, while Yoshida makes his first start in the Octagon since defeating Jon "War Machine" Koppenhaver at UFC 84.
Mike Swick will be looking to clearly establish himself in the UFC welterweight division as he faces tough Canadian Jonathan Goulet.
Brodie Farber and Luigi Fioravanti, originally slated for a welterweight contest, agreed to fight at a catch weight of 173 pounds.
Main Event
Josh Koscheck (171) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (171)
Jonathan Goulet (171) vs. Mike Swick (171)
Razak Al-Hassan (205) vs. Steve Cantwell (206)
Matt Wiman (156) vs. Jim Miller (156)
Brodie Farber (174) vs. Luigi Fioravanti (173.5)
Johnny Rees (169) vs. Steve Bruno (171)
Brandon Wolff (170) vs. Ben Saunders (170)
Nate Loughran (185) vs. Tim Credeur (186)
Dale Hartt (156) vs. Corey Hill (155)
Justin McCully (228) vs. Eddie Sanchez (246)
Koscheck Will Address Video Game Contract After Yoshida Fight
Reports surfaced last week that UFC welterweight, Josh Koscheck, has still not signed the video game contract that caused his teammate, Jon Fitch, a speedy exit and re-entrance into the UFC just a couple of weeks back.
The contract was for the UFC to have lifetime rights for the fighters to appear in future video games made for the promotion.
The rumors were stating that Koscheck had not signed the agreement and had no intention of doing so, and he may very well exit the UFC after his fight against Yoshiyuki Yoshida on Dec 10.
MMAWeekly.com has confirmed with sources close to Koscheck that the rumors about his UFC exit are absolutely false.
According the representatives close to the fighter, he has simply chosen to wait until after his fight to address any and all situations regarding contracts because he did not want a distraction while he was in the final weeks of his training camp getting ready for the fight.
Koscheck has promised to deal with the situation when his fight is finished, but he simply did not want the distraction that would take away his focus from the upcoming fight.
UFC owner, Lorenzo Fertitta, met with representatives from Zinkin Entertainment, who work on behalf of both Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, to resolve the situation with Fitch and sources have indicated that the conversation also included many other fighters on the company's roster regarding the video game contract.
Koscheck trains at the American Kickboxing Academy alongside Fitch and other UFC fighters such as Cain Velasquez and Christian Wellisch. All of the other fighters involved in the dispute are still with the UFC and past grievances have been settled.
All indications are pointing towards Koscheck still sticking with the UFC long after his fight on Wednesday night agianst Yoshiyuki Yoshida.
Reports surfaced last week that UFC welterweight, Josh Koscheck, has still not signed the video game contract that caused his teammate, Jon Fitch, a speedy exit and re-entrance into the UFC just a couple of weeks back.
The contract was for the UFC to have lifetime rights for the fighters to appear in future video games made for the promotion.
The rumors were stating that Koscheck had not signed the agreement and had no intention of doing so, and he may very well exit the UFC after his fight against Yoshiyuki Yoshida on Dec 10.
MMAWeekly.com has confirmed with sources close to Koscheck that the rumors about his UFC exit are absolutely false.
According the representatives close to the fighter, he has simply chosen to wait until after his fight to address any and all situations regarding contracts because he did not want a distraction while he was in the final weeks of his training camp getting ready for the fight.
Koscheck has promised to deal with the situation when his fight is finished, but he simply did not want the distraction that would take away his focus from the upcoming fight.
UFC owner, Lorenzo Fertitta, met with representatives from Zinkin Entertainment, who work on behalf of both Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck, to resolve the situation with Fitch and sources have indicated that the conversation also included many other fighters on the company's roster regarding the video game contract.
Koscheck trains at the American Kickboxing Academy alongside Fitch and other UFC fighters such as Cain Velasquez and Christian Wellisch. All of the other fighters involved in the dispute are still with the UFC and past grievances have been settled.
All indications are pointing towards Koscheck still sticking with the UFC long after his fight on Wednesday night agianst Yoshiyuki Yoshida.
