Hoping to Fight Four Times This Year, Erik Koch Agrees to Fight Daron Cruickshank in May

Erik Koch has stated that he intends to fight four times in 2014, and he’s off to a good start in that regard.

UFC officials on Thursday announced that Koch has verbally agreed to fight Daron Cruickshank at UFC Fight Night 40 on May 10 in Cincinnati, which will be Koch’s second fight of the year.

Koch (14-3) is fresh off of a first-round knockout over Rafaello Oliveira at last weekend’s UFC 170: Rousey vs. McMann event in Las Vegas. That victory represents a rebound after the Roufusport fighter dropped back-to-back losses to Dustin Poirier and Ricardo Lamas.

Cruickshank (14-4) last fought in at UFC on Fox 10 in January, where he defeated Mike Rio via TKO stoppage after he landed a wheel kick and then finished him off in a flurry of punches.

Cruickshank is now 4-2 in the UFC, while Koch is 3-2. Each is looking to claw his way into the title picture.

UFC Fight Night 40 currently does not have an announced headlining bout. The event is slated for May 10 at the U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati, and will air in the United States on Fox Sports 1.