Yoshida Sees Test, Opportunity in Koscheck

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 a handful of Japanese fighters -- middleweight Yushin Okami has been the most successful -- currently in the UFC. While Okami has thrived 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.”