New Breed's new challenge?

Erik Koch appears to be in position for a golden moment in his Mixed Martial Arts career.

According to various online reports, the 23-year-old featherweight fighter from Cedar Rapids is expected to be the next opponent for UFC champion Jose Aldo at UFC 149 in Calgary, Alberta, in July. Mulitple sources close to the situation confirmed the title shot with The Gazette on Tuesday.

You can see the report from sherdog.com

Apparently, UFC had to reshuffle some of the upcoming cards with the Anderson Silva-Chael Sonnen being moved from UFC 147 in Brazil to UFC 148 in Las Vegas. First reports had Koch as Aldo's opponent in Brazil in June, but now the bout will likely take place at the later date.

Koch, nicknamed "New Breed" for his versatile style that applies various disciplines and trains out of Roufusport in Milwaukee, Wis., missed his last bout in February, suffering an injury that kept him from competition.He improved to 13-1 last September when he defeated The Ultimate Fighter champion Jonathan Brookins by unanimous decision on national television in New Orleans.

Read The Gazette's feature on him following his win over Brookins.

http://thegazette.com/2011/09/19/kochs-stock-still-rising/

Koch, who attended Cedar Rapids Washington and briefly wrestled for the Warriors before concentrating fully on his MMA training, has seven submissions and three knockouts. He has won four straight bouts, including two while fighting for UFC. In his UFC debut, Koch scored a first-round knockout of Raphael Assuncao in March last year.

Watch Koch's appearance on

"The SportsDesk"  after his win over Brookins. Even then, he discussed his hopes of getting a title fight in the future