5 traditional grapplers who became dangerous strikers in the UFC

#3 Josh Koscheck

Josh Koscheck developed serious knockout power in his hands

Sure, former TUF villain Josh Koscheck ended his UFC career on a major slide – losing five fights in a row, including being knocked out twice – but prior to that he’d been on a massive journey during his MMA career. Koscheck debuted in 2005 after that TUF run as little more than a pure wrestler. Despite showing flashes of skill in other areas, he even earned the nickname ‘Blanket’ for his dull takedown-heavy style.

Years of honing his striking craft at the legendary American Kickboxing Academy would change him, though, and by 2008 he’d become one of the most concussive punchers in the Welterweight division – he knocked out the likes of Yoshiyuki Yoshida, Frank Trigg and Dustin Hazelett in shockingly brutal fashion, showing he was far more than just a wrestler.

Unfortunately for Koscheck his defensive striking never quite caught up to his offensive – his winging overhand rights and left hooks were dangerous weapons, but left him open to more skilled fighters standing, such as Thiago Alves, who destroyed his legs with kicks, and Georges St-Pierre, who shattered his eye socket with a jab in a fight that was basically the beginning of the end.

Still, perhaps no other pure grappler was able to harness the power in his hands quite as surprisingly well as Koscheck in his prime – and that’s why he belongs on this list.