Josh Koscheck Wins with Dustin Hazelett at UFC 82

The knock on Waynesburg native Josh Koscheck in his young career as a mixed martial arts fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championships was that the former NCAA champion relied too much on his wrestling background and wasn't a complete fighter.

Koscheck to another step toward dispelling that notion Saturday night here at Nationwide Arena, knocking out Dustin Hazelett with a roundhouse kick to the head at 1:24 of the second round of their match at UFC 82: Pride of a Champion.

Koscheck, fighting in the 170-pound welterweight class, set Hazelett up with a combination of punches and then nailed him with the roundhouse kick to the head with his left foot, sending Hazelett to the mat.

Koscheck slipped to the mat after delivering the kick, but quickly jumped up and pounced on Hazelett, nailing him with a number of punches before referee Herb Dean jumped in to stop the fight.

"I went with my left hand, right hand, sidestepped and set up the headkick," said Koscheck, who entered the match as the No. 5-ranked welterweight. "I fell because the mat was slippery."

It was the 30-year-old Koscheck's first fight since losing a tough three-round decision to Georges St Pierre Aug. 25 of last year. He had not fought since, while St-Pierre used the victory over Koscheck as a springboard to win the interim welterweight title.

St Pierre will fight champion Matt Serra for the championship of the weight class in Montreal, April 19. That event has already sold 21,000 tickets.

"I think this will be what he needs to get back into the championship picture," said Wes Watson, Koscheck's cousin who made the trip from Waynesburg with four others to see the fight.

Koscheck - who secured 200 tickets for family and friends - didn't disappoint.

Surprisingly, the Koscheck and Hazelett traded punches in the middle of the ring for much of the first round, with both men landing some solid blows, Koscheck bloodying Hazelett's nose with a punch, and Hazelett staggering Koscheck with a kick.

It did not seem a particularly good tradeoff for the 5'10 Koscheck, who was giving up three inches in height and four in reach to Hazelett.

Koscheck was an NCAA wrestling champion at 174 pounds at Edinboro University and a four-time All-American.

"He's a tough guy, and he's good on the ground, I didn't think he would try to stand up with me," Koscheck said.

Koscheck finally took Hazelett down to the mat with 30 seconds remaining in the first period, but was unable to land any blows as he was immediately tied up.

The two began the second of the three scheculed rounds in similar fashion to the first, trading punches in the middle of the octagon.

Koscheck hit Hazelett with the combination and then delivered the big blow, bringing the capacity crowd - which had booed him on his entrance - to its feet.

"This is the first time I've seen him fight live," said Watson, himself a former standout high school wrestler. "I'm thrilled."

After the stoppage, an exuberant Koscheck collapsed onto all fours.

"I'm stoked. I'm so happy to get back on the winning track," said Koscheck.

In other matches, Cincinnati native Jorge Gurgel won a unanimous decision over John Halverson in a lightweight bout; welterweight Diego Sanchez scored a decision over David Bielkheden in the first round by tapout; Luigi Fioravanti decisioned Luke Cummo in a welterweight bout; former heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski won by TKO over Jake O'Brien; and Jon Fitch decisioned Chris Wilson in another welterweight match.

Source: www.observer-reporter.com