Josh Koscheck has a simple message he would like to get across to every one of his professional fighting peers: Find out exactly how much you are worth.
Late last week, Koscheck, 37, announced he had signed a contract with Bellator MMA, effectively closing a 10-year relationship with the UFC that encompassed 25 official appearances.
In his first interview as a Bellator welterweight on Monday, Koscheck made it clear he did not wish to bad-mouth his former employer, but his advice to every athlete on the UFC roster is to fight out his or her contract and enter free agency.
Koscheck is aware there are no pension plans in MMA. Athletes have to earn as much as they can in a short window of time. Koscheck, who negotiated his Bellator deal while sitting on a five-fight losing streak, says free agency is the best way to do it.
"It's not about fighting out the rest of your fights just to be a d---," Koscheck told ESPN.com. "It's about seeing where your value is.
"Bellator is a strong, viable company that will come out and compete to get fighters. Drive your price up. Either force UFC to match an offer or come to Bellator and fight on great fight cards. That's what it's all about."
Koscheck spoke to ESPN.com in depth about his decision to leave the UFC, signing with Bellator, his most recent couple performances and more.
After 27 professional fights, why still compete and why make the decision to do so with Bellator?
I feel like I still have something to prove in the sport. I want to end my career on a good note. The reason I went to Bellator is that, obviously, I started my career on Spike TV [on "The Ultimate Fighter" reality series in 2005] and I've always wanted the opportunity to fight on Spike TV again. And I've always wanted to fight for [Bellator president] Scott Coker. He is genius when it comes to this game. For the first time in my career, I get to take my handcuffs off. I can say what I what I want. I can do what I want. I can put on social media what I want. I don't have to worry about repercussions of [the UFC] picking up the phone and harassing me, telling me I'm an idiot and that they're sponsors won't like that. We're fighters and we're personalities, and up to certain limits, we should be able to do and say what we want. My handcuffs are finally off and I'm excited about having this opportunity to be Josh Koscheck again.
Can you give me a specific example of the UFC handcuffs you're referring to?
From the media standpoint, you know it. Don't kid yourself. The media is all under the same aspect of it with that company. When dealing with the UFC, you're in handcuffs. If the media writes certain things, they won't credential you. So, don't kid me. You guys know it. All the fighters know it. The fans know it. It's time for everybody to get together and start a fighter union and grow this sport in the direction of the fighters, because without the fighters, there are no organizations -- UFC or Bellator. And one of the biggest reasons for leaving the UFC too, is I didn't feel like this Reebok [uniform] deal was beneficial to any of the fighters. Reebok should be ashamed of themselves, if they knew what these fighters were getting paid. It's embarrassing.
Was there a certain situation that soured your relationship, though? Or it was a combination of things?
I played the game for a long time with the UFC because I'm a business man and I get it. You play the game with them. 'Oh, we'll take care of you,' and when Dana said he'd take care of me, he usually did. There were certain times when I thought I was going to get taken care of and I didn't, as well. I'm here to tell everybody, these fighters need to come together and fight their contract out. They need to see what their value is, because right now, if you only negotiate with the UFC, you don't know what your market value is. Scott Coker and Spike TV have money and I promise you, they will bid on every single fighter that fights out his contract.
Have you ever really tested your value on the free-agent market before now?
Yeah, of course. I've been wanting to fight out my contract for a long time. Unfortunately, Scott Coker wasn't in a position to sign me last time. At the time I was negotiating my previous contract, Scott Coker was tied up with the UFC on a non-compete agreement. Now he's with Bellator. I've wanted to fight for Scott Coker for a long time. He's honest and he treats his fighters with respect. You can call Scott up on the phone with something and he's not going to cuss you out and tell you that you suck.
Did wanting to get out of your UFC contract have anything to do with agreeing to your last fight [against Erick Silva in March] on short notice?
Absolutely. Both of my last two fights. When I fought Jake Ellenberger [at UFC 184 in February], I was supposed to fight someone else. They said, 'Oh, we'll let you pick your opponent. We know you've got to get back on track.' We agreed on someone and they changed it. That's just one example of what they do. For the Silva fight, I was like, 'Screw it. I'm in shape. I'll just go out and fight the last fight on my contract.' That was my only goal in my last two fights with the UFC -- was to just get out of that contract and move on to the future.
Was there ever any discussion with the UFC about resigning -- or them matching the offer from Bellator?
I'm a little disappointed. I gave 27-plus fights to them. I was on "The Ultimate Fighter's" first season and I coached on "The Ultimate Fighter." [UFC president] Dana White didn't have the decency to pick up the phone and say, 'Hey, what are you doing? Here, we'll do this or do that.' That's the only disappointing thing about this whole conversation. Am I bitter? Not a chance. At the end of the day, it's a business. Dana could have picked up the phone and said, 'Thanks for everything, good luck,' but I'm not bitter that he didn't. I know they use up fighters until they're all done and then they're done with them. It's all good to me. I understand it.
You mentioned the UFC's Reebok deal. Why is it not a good deal for fighters in your opinion?
The first time I fought Georges St-Pierre [at UFC 74 in August 2007], I made $10,000 [show money] and $10,000 [win bonus] but I made $100,000 in sponsorships. Once the UFC started taxing sponsors to be in the cage, fighters started making crap, crap money. That's when you saw the "Condom Depot" stickers for $500. Sponsorship money died as soon as they sponsor taxed us. They always say they'll never hurt the fighters, but that killed us. That was my experience. Now, this Reebok deal, they should be embarrassed. The way these shirts came out, a third grader could have designed better shirts than this. The Reebok deal is very bad for fighters and it hurts them in the pocketbook. And that's sad, man.
Do you worry the majority of fans will view your comments as essentially sour grapes between a former employee/employer?
I don't really care if fans hear me or not. I want the fighters to hear me. I'm only doing this interview for the fighters. Scott Coker is a standup guy. He understands that it's the fighters that make everything turn. It's time for fighters to fight out their contracts and find out what they're worth. If it doesn't happen, then these guys are all stupid. That's the only thing I'll say about it. Scott Coker will put big money on the table. He wants to build an organization.
Do you have any idea yet when your first fight with Bellator will take place?
It will be this year. I will fight by the end of the year. That's all I can say.
When you announced the news, you mentioned Bellator welterweight Paul Daley right away. Will he be your first opponent?
That's up to Scott Coker and my management. I will tell you that I'll fight anybody over there. I'm excited again. This is a second life for Josh Koscheck. Hopefully, I'll come out and perform like I think I can still perform and put on some exciting fights. If it's Paul Daley I fight, then it's Paul Daley. He sucker punched me after we fought [at UFC 113 in May 2010] and I'm not too thrilled about that.
