He’s going to shock a lot of people this Saturday, according to this pre-fight interview:
Props: Yahoo.com
October 20th, 2008
77 Comments »

He’s going to shock a lot of people this Saturday, according to this pre-fight interview:
Props: Yahoo.com

War Koscheck, This is a bad match-up for Thiago, kiss that title shot goodbye Thiago and get ready to start working your way back up.
I think this is a harder match up for Thiago..then if he were to face Diego.
Guys.. Over/Under
What are the chances Thiago defeats Kos at UFC90?
Why is this a bad match up for him? His Jits is better and his stand up is better and he is stronger. Kos has the wrestling on him, but that is it.
Thiago by TKO.
This is a worse matchup for THiago Alvez than Diego would have been. Kos has the ability to put Thiago on his back and keep him there. Thiago is very ineffective off of his back. The fight needs to be standing for him to win. Kos has dry humped better BJJ buys than Thiago Alves so there is no worry of a submission. As long as Kos can avoid the KO, I fully expect him to win a decision.
I think Thiago has a 30% chance of beating Kos.. SO I’m going under.
If it was Diego.. I would of said 69% chance.
Thats a good point. The only win in Kos’ career of any importance is a decision against Diego. He just does not beat top tier guys. I don’t think Kos has faced someone as strong as Thiago before, plus if Hughes could not keep Thiago down, I don’t see Kos being able to.
i dont know if u know this but kos is alot better wrestler then matt hughes, 4 time all american and a national champ. Also kos is alot more explosive and athletic than matt hughes and he also poses more of a threat in the stand up game.
More of a threat than Hughes? Yes, for sure. Hughes is old now. More of a threat than Diego, not really seeing it. They are about the same threat level imo. I don’t see either one beating Thiago right now.
I promise you guys that Tiago is going to be the 1st to kNock out Koschek! alves is on fire right now, and he wont stop winning till he faces GSP
I sure hope you are right John. I share a hatred for Koscheck like many others on this site. I would like nothing more than too see him layed out from an Alves knee.
The fact that Koscheck choose to take Lytle down makes me a little nervous. There is no way he will stand with Alves. Tiago’s defense better be on point or Koschek will hump away. Also, I heard Koscheck will be granted a title shot as well if he wins. That is just another reason for him to rub agaisn’t Tiago taint for a lame decision.
With all that said I am still picking 2 round KO for Alves. Does anyone know the odds on this fight yet?
Ugh, I want Kos to win but I want to see Diego fight GSP. Hell I’d rather see Thiago fight GSP.
JOHN, your word is no good anymore…You always promise some fighter to win, cuz your in love with them and it lol never comes true…I hope to god the big bank roll had HAD isn’t gone from betting cuz you suck at it now. quit prosmise BS all the time. F@$
nah Bank roll is still intact baby! But I have to admit that I havent really won any new money in about since about May. Since then it has been back and forth. Win money on a UFC event, loose it at the next event. Since May, I have been pretty much even.
You cannot take away the FACT that I promised he would KO both Alves and Hughes, got laughed at and heckled by people like you, only to watch my boy aLVES deliver devestatinbg knees.
1 thiung about Alves is he is a genius at timing his knees perfectly to catch his opponents shooting in for takedown attempts. Kos is going to get caught coming in.
You will see!
mania, you got to repost the peice where Kos, leben and sanchez were in the car insinuating that alves took steroids, that was great!
This is unfortunate, that Kos will kill the hype Alves was making so he could fight GSP. But hey, I don’t reallly mind, cuz Penn will take the belt and be fighting him anyway.
right… just like grizzly adams had a beard? wait…
This is going to be an interesting fight but if koscheck wins I don’t really want to see kosckeck/gsp 2 I would rather see gsp/thiago. But thats only if gsp beats penn which I think he will. I actually think kocheck has a better chance of winning this fight than diego mainly because of his explosive takedowns similar to gsp’s, only gsp has better take down defense. Kosckech really needs to watch out for those knee’s, he’s still a little too cocky for his own good but gsp humbled him last time and will again if they fight again.
I just chatted with him, he says he’s never been KOed
He also said he would beat GSP next time
LMAO!
then here comes his first ko. i hope alves can make wieght this time. off topic. the pics of rachelle leah are ok. nothing to grand. still good tho. glad i didnt buy it tho. and watched the happeng movie was so bad.
This could be fight of the night if Josh doesn’t lay and pray
IF he gets Thiago down, that is the only thing he will be able to do. The only Josh wins this is by decision do to LNP.
That’s garbage. Kos beat the crap out of Hazlett and Lytle. He didn’t lay and pray and he won’t against Alves. His game is to take guys down and punish them which he does very well. The same way GSP did to Fitch. You shouldn’t take anything away from Kos. It would take a truck to finish off guys like Lytle and Fitch.
I’m not saying that Kos is terrible or he has never punished people, I made a bunch of money when he fought Lytle, but I don’t see him doing it to Thiago. If I am wrong I will eat my crow, but I don’t think I will be wrong.
What are the odds like in this fight?
wheres chase at? i bet hes going to the store to buy some vaseline for this interview
Mania can you get something on Griffin VS Sherk? I’m really looking forward to this one. I wonder who Nostradumbass is going to pick
Who ever is the favorite.
BURN!!!!!!!
i was bummed when i heard diego was hurt, but this is a close 2nd. im really looking forward to this fight. dana has already been quoted as saying that kos would get the winner of bj/gsp if he beats thiago. i would assume the same goes fot thiago. this fight has huge implications in thw ww division. where the hell is jon fitch at, he should be fighting soon. i think he would be a good replacement for kos to fight yoshida in dec. will thiago make weight? come sat.
Great point, I agree Fitch vs Yoshida would be awesome but so would Diego vs Yoshida. Can’t go wrong either way. Best part its free either way.
true. diego would make a good replacement and be a big ratings draw.
I see Leben Vs. Koscheck II in your future, Josh.
leben vs swick at ww is the latest rumor. those 2 have a grudge as well.
There is nothing that Josh Koscheck brings to the table that Matt Hughes did not. Koscheck has mediocre striking too - he looked TERRIBLE against GSP, who is an elite striker.
Hughes’ striking is about on par with Kos… look how well that panned out.
Thiago is an animal and he will tool Koscheck… uh, if he makes weight that is. I don’t know why he doesn’t move up to 185. He’s an exciting fighter who would give the MW division another interesting participant. With some more seasoning, Thiago could be a legit challenger for Anderson Silva.
He doesn’t move up because he would get destroyed. Alve isn’t top five in the welterweight division, why should he move up? You say that Hughes striking is about on par with Kos? Kos would knock Hughes out easily because his striking is far superior. He would also school Hughes in a wrestling match (now or back in Hughes prime).
agreed.
yeah right watch the koscheck vs hazlett fight and tell me matt hughes striking is the same as koscheck’s.
And who is Dustin Hazlett? Oh I see, he’s beaten a number of high quality opponents the likes of… well, me. You want me to be impressed with Koscheck’s striking? You’ll have to cite a better opponent than Hazlett. Wait, I have an idea for one, some T. Alves guy.
I’ll concede the Hughes point - we do not have enough data to suggest that Hughes’ striking progressed past “average”, as he only tried to strike with people late in his career, which included several GSP fights.
actually kos has better stiking then hughes. Also he is a better wrestler who is more explosive and athletic kos has alot better chance in this fight than matt hughes had.
you know, when koschek fought gsp it was way too soon in his career to take him on. and yet, koschek took gsp the distance, losing the fight by a single point! And GSP had to train extensively with top wrestlers in the world to prepare for kos.
My only concern about KOS in this fight is that he’s only had two weeks notice. If he gets by this fight, he will beat anyone they put in front of him. This kid has awesome skills! People may not like him because of his attitude, but he really has tremendous talent, and quickness.
I’d thought all along that if koschek had waited a year to fight GSP, the outcome would have been very different!
So, the bottom line is this. Had Kos had the proper amount of time to prepare, this fight would be no contest. Since he’s only had 2 weeks, Alves may win this fight. But if Kos wins this fight, you will be looking at the next champion in this division!
Thiago looks like he could make 185 easy. I think he’ll be too big/strong for Kos and he get the w. Hope Thiago’s been working on his ground defense–he needs to improve on his back.
*he’ll
thiago could easily make 185 i recall him saying he walks around normally well over 200 pounds i think he could probably make 205, especially if he is still on the roids.
No kidding Einstein! If he can make 170 I would think that he could make 185. Heck, he could probably even make 205.
Watever! lol. I was just trying to get the point across he would be too big for Kos.
He won’t move up because he is only 5′9″ and although he would be a really strong 185, he would be short and lose ALOT in the reach department, especially against a 6′2″ Silva.
There is little doubt that he is a huge welterweight. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that he is stronger. Kos’s striking improves with every fight and I don’t think that Alves will be able to knock him out. However, Kos will be able to take Thiago down at will and punish him. I doubt that Alves can submit Kos from the bottom. Kos continues to get better and better (awesome wins over Hazlett and Lytle) and I wouldn’t be surprised to see an even better fighter against Alves. His accomplishments in wrestling (which make guys like Hughes look downright Kindergarten like) show his work ethic, intelligence and mental toughness.
I don’t care how good Kos’ striking is getting, he should not and will not strike with Thiago. If he does he will get KO’d. Kos will have to try to take him down. I don’t think he can do that at will, but he should be able to get him down.
We will see for sure. This should be an exciting fight.
No, I don’t think Alves’s ground game’s good enough now to get close to submitting a guy w/ Kos’s wrestling skills on the ground. I know Kos’s game is evolving and his striking’s improved (i recently saw the fite vs. Hazlett and he looked vry impressive striking). I’m not sure he’ll be able to take Alves down quite as easily as you appear to, though. I just don’t see him getting a win over Alves at this point though. Obviously the winner’s in a better position to get a title shot, and I’d prefer to see Alves/GSP over GSP/Kos 2 (assuming GSP beats BJ)
Adam, Yeah, I just rewatched the fight vs. Hazelett and his striking has improved a lot. I don’t think he’ll be able to take Alves down as easily as you appear to, though. Alves should have been training on his back for Diego, so I think he’ll be improved in that area. I just don’t see Kos getting a win over Alves at this point. Obviously the winner’s placed in a better positions to get a title shot, and I’d rather see GSP/Alves over GSP/Kos 2 (assuming GSP beats BJ).
I meant his ground game defense on his back, not his jiu jitsu skills.
I think anyone with a black belt in jiu-jitsu can slap on a sub at any point against any wrestler if given the chance. I don’t see it going that way though. I think Thiago will be to big and strong for Kos, it won’t go to the ground and Thiago gets the (T)KO. Just my opinion though.
True. I’m just ready for Saturday. Glad there’s not a month btwn 89 and 90.
Good comments Mike and Dayman. I enjoy the intelligent chat. I look forward to the fight. I’m just not a big fan of Alves. I think Kos could be a serious contender to GSP and just because he was beaten handily the first time it doesn’t mean that would happen again. And this is coming from a huge GSP fan. Big props to Kos for stepping up on short notice. I have a feeling he will surprise a lot of people including Thiago.
Thanks. I can’t wait for this fight too. I would have rathered see Thiago smash Diego, but I will take Kos instead. Not many people I like at 170 right now anyway. I really think that Thiago is the biggest threat to GSP because of his stand up. GSP will outwrestle anyone at 170 though.
Can’t wait to see how this goes down.
Let’s see if Thiago can even make weight. Comparing how he looked against Fitch to now he looks like he added a good 10 lbs. of muscle. How he did that I dont know, but it certainly looks shady. I got KOS. I wouldnt be surprised if thiago loses his title shot and tests positive for roids (among other things).
He does look like a freaking monster, I hope he makes weight.
and if he doesn’t make weight, i hope kos refuses to fight him; teach the guy a lesson.
Kos has a better chance of beating alves than diego does but diego vs alves is a lot more intriguing because kos is boring!
there is a video with diego , leben and kos in a van going to the ‘ultimate fighter one re union’ i think ..and talking about the diego/alves fight, diego, leben and kos mention how BIG alves is and they imply he is on ‘roids’ but no one i know of has brought it up to alves in an interview i can find, i am curious of his response..
i think if kos wins this he would beat gsp in the rematch just because he would go back to the old dry humping wrestling machine he was before
I don’t consider taking someone down, controlling them and raining down elbows, forearms and punches as “dry humping”. You must be one of those fans that starts booing when there isn’t a knockout in the first thirty seconds.
However, I don’t see Kos defeating GSP in a rematch although it could be a very good fight. GSP is just to good for anyone at 170 including BJ. I can’t wait for a catch weight fight with Anderson Silva because he has the perfect style to give Anderson trouble. Silva’s size and reach could be to much for GSP to overcome however.
Even if he tried that crap with GSP he would lose. GSP is way too good a wrestler for Kos (yes I know his ncaa record) or anyone else at 170.
NCAA Wrestling and MMA wrestling are two entirly different animals.
I dont know….I have a feeling KOS is getting KO’d, but I’d rather see Kos win than Thiago.
even though I dont really like either fighter that much
The only thing Kos could do that would surprise me is to not be a total douchebag.
Hey Kos you dont have any fans no need to step up for us. If you really cared about the fans you would go away.
I hate you Kos and I hope Alves tastes your salty tears of pain.
A post with such relevance, passion and eloquence is truly rare on a board such as this. Sir, you have stood out from the masses the same way a fine craft beer rises above the swill embraced by the unwashed Huns.
Koscheck is great.. he has changed since the Sanchez fight to the better and more exciting, i see Kos winning this..
Please Thiago knock Kos out. Do all MMA fans a favor and give us a humiliating highlight reel knockout of one of MMA’s most asinine fighters.
Kos will go to sleep the first time Thiago touches his chin
If anyone goes to sleep it’s the juicer.. i cannot believe all the hype around Thiago for beating an old and more than over the hill Hughes..
And uh…ya know….and uh….ya know. Kos sucks in so many ways. If only I could love as strongly as I hate this man, the world would be a better place.
Do us a favor Josh and knock this i cant make weight fighter. Show him what ground and pound is and get that title shot.. = )
Come on guys; I am not a Kos fan but show him some appreciation for stepping up and taking this fight. This kind of thing makes a fighter grow on me.
KOS second round! Alves will be a bloody mess by round 2!!
W A R K O S C H E C K ! !