Josh Koscheck Signs with Bellator MMA

Welcome to the family @JoshKoscheck #BellatorNation

— Scott Coker (@ScottCoker) June 27, 2015

One of the longest-tenured fighters in the history of the Ultimate Fighting Championship will have a new home the next time he competes.

Josh Koscheck has signed with Bellator MMA, the UFC’s biggest rival, and he will likely make his debut for the company later this year. The news was announced earlier tonight during the broadcast of Bellator 139 on Spike TV.

Once one of the most promising fighters in the UFC’s welterweight division, the polarizing “Kos” hit the skids over the past few years, losing more than he he’s won. He ended his stint in the UFC on a five-fight losing streak, all but one courtesy of a submission or knockout.

Koscheck fought 25 times in the Octagon and once challenged Georges St. Pierre for the welterweight title. The American Kickboxing Academy product had memorable battles with many of the elite at 170 pounds, scoring wins over top competitors Diego Sanchez, Anthony Johnson and Matt Hughes, but he hasn’t had his hand raised in victory since toppling Mike Pierce at UFC 143 more than three years ago.

Rumors swirled that Koscheck was going to retire, but he always denied the reports and now he has his eyes set on a career resurrection in Bellator. He took to his official Twitter account after his signing was revealed with the following Tweet: “Started my career on #SpikeTV & I’m going to finish my career here!!!”

The immediate reaction to the news was that Koscheck’s first match in the Bellator cage could be against old rival Paul Daley, but Bellator officials gave no word on when Koscheck will make his organizational debut and with whom it’ll be against.