Josh Koscheck set to face returning Robbie Lawler at UFC 157

5618256211 1d53da427b zJosh Koscheck had to pull out of his scheduled UFC 151 bout with Jake Ellenberger due to a back injury, although the card was ultimately canceled regardless. Now he has a new opponent, and it’s a name you never would have guessed.

According to the Orange County Register, former UFC fighter Robbie Lawler is making a return to the Octagon and dropping down to Welterweight to face the always controversial and outspoken Koscheck at UFC 157. With the addition of the bout, UFC 157 is shaping up to be quite the nice card, featuring the inaugural UFC Women’s bout and a Light Heavyweight all-star match in Dan Henderson vs. Lyoto Machida. 

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Lawler has always been known as an exciting fighter, with mixed results in both the UFC and Strikeforce. The Iowa-based striker started off with a bang as he went in 3-0 in the UFC in 2002. The road got rough, however, and Lawler later found success in other promotions, attaining the EliteXC Middleweight belt. He held on to it until the promotion folded. Most recently appearing in Strikeforce, he had an overall 3-5 record there.

Koscheck had been campaigning for some big fights, but after looking largely unimpressive against Johny Hendricks last spring, the UFC may want to give him more of a tune-up fight. After all, Kos just turned 35 and is coming off of an injury. This fight does have the makings to be exciting because Lawler is involved, but many deride Koscheck for his at-times boring wrestling style. What it will do is gauge if Koscheck truly has one run left in the ultra-tough UFC Welterweight division.