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As feud with AKA's Javier Mendez lingers, Josh Koscheck eyes return at UFC 155

On a recent episode of "Fight Factory," (full episodes available at mynuvotv.com) Koscheck friend and former training partner Jon Fitch, who still trains at AKA, made a trip to Fresno to work with Koscheck as he prepared for a fight that was to take place on Saturday against Jake Ellenberger. (Koscheck was forced out this past month with a bulging disc in his back. Jay Hieron replaced him, but the fight was moved to UFC on FX 5 when UFC 151 was canceled.)

"The bridge in San Jose is pretty much burned," Koscheck told Fitch in the episode. "And it's nothing to do with anyone over there – it's pretty much one person. And we all know who that person is – Javier."

But Koscheck, who gained fame on Season 1 of "The Ultimate Fighter" and has been a perennial contender in the welterweight division, quickly took his feelings toward Mendez to the next level without much holding back for Fitch.

"I just wasn't happy and it wasn't the place for me anymore," Koscheck said. "… I'm done with this (expletive) guy. Does the guy not know how much I've done for him and his gyms? … Too much fame, too much TV – people change. I hope the gym burns to the ground. Is that bad? Hopefully nobody's in it. Well, maybe just one person. But if it burns down, I'm cool. We'll be good."

Koscheck won two straight fights after dropping a unanimous decision against Georges St-Pierre in a welterweight title fight at UFC 124 in December 2010. He returned from a a long injury layoff to knock out Matt Hughes in the first round at UFC 135, then won a split decision against Mike Pierce at UFC 141. But against Johny Hendricks at UFC on FOX 3 this past May, a split decision didn't go his way.

Now, just about a month removed from the announcement he would have to pull out of the fight with Ellenberger, Koscheck is turning an eye toward his return to the octagon – at the same time he continues his open attacks on Mendez.

"I'll be ready to fight by December 29 in Vegas!! my rehab is going great," Koscheck on Friday stated on Twitter.

But earlier in the day Friday, Koscheck wasn't talking on Twitter about when he wants to return – it was Mendez.

"Watch Fight Factory wed night?Jav shows up late 4 training!," Koscheck stated as part of a series of successive tweets. "Ha I guess that's good bc most of the time he didnt even come 2 training at all. Little birdie recently told me Jav was sleeping in his office 3 days ago & missed practice. I leave AKA & ppl r still callin me complaining. After watching fight factory people will realize who the head coach is at aka and who the fighters 'rely' on. His name is BOB COOK!!"

Time will tell if Koscheck will get an opponent and can be ready in time for UFC 155, which takes place Dec. 29 in Las Vegas and features a heavyweight title fight between champion Junior Dos Santos and former champ Cain Velasquez – an AKA fighter.

But it appears to be a reasonable certainty that his rift with Mendez is for the long term.

As feud with AKA's Javier Mendez lingers, Josh Koscheck eyes return at UFC 155 | MMAjunkie.com

[kingrobert]

Kos really needs to learn how to punch with both hands instead of just reaching and poking people in the eye. I think the new breed of fighters is starting to catch up with Kos.

[carbondioxide830]

I was hopin since he left aka a fight with fitch would be more of a reality but I seen on fight factory they still maintakn a friendship.

Kos and nick diaz would be epic tho! When is his suspension up?

[rabidsponge]

why is he even going on about javier still? all that shit happened a while ago no..let it go and focus on your own gym now