UFC 143 Results: Josh Koscheck Picks Up Razor-Thin Split Decision Victory Over Mike Pierce

by Tim Burke on Feb 4, 2012 11:30 PM EST in UFC Event

Josh Koscheck used timely takedowns and some solid clinch work to take a very close split decision over Mike Pierce in the third main card fight at UFC 143. Pierce arguably landed more strikes and looked to be the more effective fighter for large portions of the fight, but Kos showed off his octagon experience by picking his spots well in his 20th trip to the cage. The crowd booed the decision, which led to Koscheck flipping them off in his post-fight interview.

Pierce took approximately 10 seconds before he shot in for a takedown. He was unsuccessful, but managed to rough Koscheck up against the cage for a while. As the finally separated, Pierce landed an uppercut and right. Pierce looked for a takedown again, but the two battled in the clinch instead. They finally opened up with 90 seconds left in the round, with both fighters landing bombs. Pierce managed to scoop a leg late, but was again unable to get Kos to the ground.

Pierce started the second where he ended the first, with a single leg. Koscheck escaped, but ate a Pierce combination in the clinch. Pierce landed consistently with his jab, but ended up with a cut up in his hairline from an accidental headbutt. Pierce continued to bully Koscheck in the clinch, and Kos didn't really have an answer. Finally it's Koscheck's turn to shoot in for a takedown, and he was successful the very first time. Pierce got up quickly though. The round ended uneventfully.

Both fighters were more than happy to exchange early in the third, with neither guy gaining much of an advantage. Pierce finally got a trip takedown, but Kos got up immediately. They spent an extended amount of time in the clinch, exchanging knees while referee Herb Dean asked them to work. Koscheck attempted another takedown halfway through the round, but Pierce fought him off until Dean separated them. Koscheck inadvertantly poked Pierce in the eye, but Dean didn't take a point. Kos finally found a bit of success with his hands late, and managed to get a double leg takedown with 30 seconds to go. Pierce popped up and landed a spinning elbow to close out the fight.

This was Koscheck's twentieth bout in the UFC, and he was coming off a knockout win over UFC Hall of Famer Matt Hughes. Pierce was 5-2 in the UFC entering this fight, with his last win coming over Paul Bradley at UFC on Fox.

SBN coverage of UFC 143: Diaz vs. Condit

Tweet Comment 20 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Bullshit. Utter bullshit.

Pierce landed the better shots, landed his jab at will, and took no damage on those two takedowns.

Koscheck vs. Hendricks for #1 contender. Sure why not?

Read my tweets or whatever - @SSReporters

by SSreporters on Feb 4, 2012 11:32 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Develop a jab and TDD, or lose to a late and meaningless double leg.

Worst Robbery since Garcia Phan I

Have you ever noticed that anybody driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac?
George Carlin
----------------------------
Brock Lesnar's Cruelty Free Pest Control
Customer Service Representative
----------------------------
K1 Level Predictions Team 2011 BE Cilvil War Champions!
----------------------------

Follow @Snatchl

Please visit the Daniel James Miller Foundation and donate whatever you can

by Snatchl on Feb 5, 2012 1:30 AM EST up reply actions

They aren't kidding when they say "Hard- Nosed Wrestlers"

Koscheck’s face is a jab magnet

There's no moral order at all. There's just this: can my violence conquer yours?

by ElliotMatheny on Feb 5, 2012 4:11 AM EST up reply actions

Terrible decision. Not sure how the judges gave Kos that second round (assuming that was the one they gave him).

by Pantherhare on Feb 4, 2012 11:35 PM EST reply actions

Horseshit. Smelly horseshit.

MMA needs better judges, only a SPLIT for my man Koscheck. All Pierce did was scrape off Kos’s bacne through the fence. He’d sit on him forever and Herb said nothing, Kos rest for 3 seconds and he’s in his ass like the dude from Curb Your Enthusiasm (sp?).

For real though, fight was lame.

by cager on Feb 4, 2012 11:37 PM EST reply actions

Close fight,

But I don’t see how Kos won it.

by The Armchair Juggernaut on Feb 4, 2012 11:37 PM EST via mobile reply actions

the second round could have gone either way really….unfortunately it went the way of Kos.

by Sean Bakhtiar on Feb 4, 2012 11:40 PM EST reply actions

BS decision, Pierce should have won. Kos stealing the rounds with late and meaningless takedowns was so lame.

Also, Herb Dean has been pretty terrible as of late.

by ddevil on Feb 4, 2012 11:41 PM EST reply actions

The fact that the rds were even enough to be legitimately determined by a late td speaks more about the fight than anything else…

by Ryjo on Feb 5, 2012 12:12 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Not sure how so many ppl are pissed at the decision. Neither fighter looked great tonight, and both seemed too tentative. The fight was very, very even and although people dont like Kos, that isnt a valid reason to think he lost.

by Ryjo on Feb 5, 2012 12:08 AM EST via mobile reply actions