Knocking on the door: MMAmania.com exclusive sit-down with UFC fighter Jon Fitch
By: Andrew Nostvick
Next Saturday night at UFC 82: “Pride of a Champion” Jon Fitch will continue his climb up the welterweight mountain when he takes on Chris Wilson, who will be making his debut inside the Octagon.
Fitch goes into this fight with 14 straight wins, seven of those in the UFC. And he acknowledges that going through Wilson — who is on a hot streak of his own — will be no easy task.
“He’s pretty lanky, long and has a pretty good one-two combination, good stand-up, he’s pretty dangerous in that regard,” Fitch told MMAmania.com. “His ground is okay, it’s not great, but he’s dangerous on the ground because he is long and a lot of times the long guys are pretty tricky with their positioning and can do things most guys can’t, so it’s important to keep your game tight with guys like that.”
Fitch is well-aware that Wilson is confident going into this fight and views this as a good thing.
“I only want to fight the toughest guys out there and if you’re afraid to fight somebody or are not really confident going into a fight, then I don’t want to fight you,” Fitch said.
Originally, Fitch was slated to take on former Pride FC fighter, Akihiro Gono. However, a Gono injury forced him out and brought in Wilson.
Both Gono and Wilson are two different fighting styles and Fitch has had to prepare differently for Wilson than he would have for Gono.
“Akihiro is kind of in-and-out, picks his spots to fight, while Chris tends to move a little bit more, also the size makes a difference, a shorter Gono compared to a longer Wilson makes it a big difference,” Fitch said. “I’ve been changing things up with different grappling partners and sparring partners, to match up size and striking ability.”
Fitch knows what he must do to walk out of UFC 82 in Columbus with his 15th straight victory.
“I need to keep my game really tight, don’t get loose, because that’s when he tends to catch people,” Fitch said. “I have to keep it tight and keep the pressure and try to break him with my pressure.”
With Fitch now being among the elite, it’s only a matter of time until he gets a shot at the welterweight title.
Fitch has UFC wins over Brock Larson, Josh Burkman, Thiago Alves and most recently, Diego Sanchez. Fitch believes that he has been in the UFC long enough and has won enough to earn a title shot.
“I think that I’ve put in the work to deserve a title shot. I’ve never heard of anybody with the record in the UFC that I have not getting some kind of title shot. I don’t understand why I wouldn’t or what the deal would be for me not to get it,” Fitch said.
“I don’t get a control say unfortunately. Otherwise, I would have had all marquee match-ups against named fighters instead of against guys who people haven’t heard about who are just as tough as those marquee guys.”
It’s going to be hard to deny Fitch a chance at the title if he wins at the Nationwide Arena this Saturday night. His long win streak is unheard of in this division and in the sport itself. He gives credit to hard work and having fun.
“It’s hard work, just keeping your eyes on the work in front of you and getting done and having fun along the way. I really enjoy the workouts,” Fitch said. “I enjoy learning new techniques and I don’t let any of that other stuff get to me. I’m not here to be famous. I’m not here to be a rock star.”
That might be inevitable, however, if everything goes according to plan for Fitch in 2008.
27 Comments »
I see him fighting GSP in the near future.
[quote comment=”326127″]I see him fighting GSP in the near future.[/quote]
Fitch vs. GSP will be the best welterweight championship match that the UFC has to offer. Its inevitable that these 2 will meet up sometime in 2008.
As for Fitch, I think he has the skills and mental toughness to beat anyone in the welterweight division not named GSP. I say he destroys Matt Hughes! He has what it takes to beat GSP, but my money would still be on GSP in that one!
[quote comment=”326137″][quote comment=”326127″]I see him fighting GSP in the near future.[/quote]
Fitch vs. GSP will be the best welterweight championship match that the UFC has to offer. Its inevitable that these 2 will meet up sometime in 2008.
As for Fitch, I think he has the skills and mental toughness to beat anyone in the welterweight division not named GSP. I say he destroys Matt Hughes! He has what it takes to beat GSP, but my money would still be on GSP in that one![/quote]
Yeah man I don’t know, I just don’t see GSP and Fitch being teh biggest WW fight ever, I see GSP controlling most of the time, GSP and Fitch to me are very similar styles, GSP just being the better, more explosive version. But besides GSP, Fitch can indeed hang with anyone.
please just let fitch and karo mix it up. Neither of them want this fight though, its too tough and they both just want to coast to their title shots.
If they both really beleive they each have title shots, then make them fight and that will determine who gets their title shot.
[quote comment=”326177″]please just let fitch and karo mix it up. Neither of them want this fight though, its too tough and they both just want to coast to their title shots.
If they both really beleive they each have title shots, then make them fight and that will determine who gets their title shot.[/quote]
Are you kidding? Fitch has been calling out Karo for over a year. Karo is the one ducking/coasting. Not Fitch.
Just wish UFC would’ve allowed the MMA mania sponsorship. Fitch would dismantle Karo.
Fitch vs GSP would be a back and forth fight, I think it would go deep, Fitch is too strong and has too much heart to just get walked on.
I think Fitch might gas out some where in the fight, because he will be having a guy who regularly wieghs like 200 lbs push the pace on fitch.
GSP vs Fitch would be maybe one of those great rivalrys that could maybe even have a rubber match, based on the fact that Fitch contiunes to improve.
But we must wait for Fitch to beat wilson. Anything can happen in the Octagon
If Fitch GSP does indeed happen in 2008 I don’t really see anywhere Fitch has an advantage. After seing him brush off Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck takedowns and then take them both down I find it relitivly hard to fathom Fitch being able to take GSP down or stop GSP from taking him down. On the ground I think GSP has the better Jui-Jitsu and on the feet he has a far superior striking game. Fitch is a great fighter, but he doesn’t match up well against a fighter like GSP, he is just on another level.
overrated! he has not faced any really tough fighters in the ufc. if he wins this fight i think dana needs 2 start matching him up against tougher fighters.
Chris Wilson drinks Jon Fitch’s milkshake!!!! 2nd round TKO!!!!
When Fitch fought Roan Carneiro he didn’t look all that impressive. Roan was taking him down pretty easily in the first road, which leads me to believe that GSP wouldn’t have much trouble getting Fitch to the ground.
Fitch should win this fight with Wilson but I see him losing to GSP. He’s just not quite at that top level yet. Perhaps in a year or so he’ll be a truly legitimate threat to the top of the devision.
I honestly believe that Koscheck is the closest welterweight to GSP with his incredible wrestling (first round was about 50/50 when they fought). I’m not a Kos fan but I feel that with a different game plan (Wrestling before Striking) he would be able to give Georges some trouble. Having said that I still think GSP would come out on top after 5 rounds.
I honestly believe that Koscheck is the closest welterweight to GSP with his incredible wrestling (first round was about 50/50 when they fought). I’m not a Kos fan but I feel that with a different game plan (Wrestling before Striking) he would be able to give Georges some trouble. Having said that I still think GSP would come out on top after 5 rounds.[/quote]
I agree Koscheck has the most potential out of everyone in the WW division and I dont see hazlett even having a chance. After Koscheck beats his next three opponents its Kos/GSP II.
“Fitch believes that he has been in the UFC long enough and has won enough to earn a title shot.”
I’ve been playing chess for a long time and have also won many times, that still doesn’t make me a contender for Chess World Champion. He is not champion material and is a hole in the wall to everyday UFC fans.
dia mette, I hope you’re kidding when you say Kos had anything going for him in his fight with GSP.
I hope Fitch does not get a shot at the belt after this win. This fight will prove absolutely nothing, but that he can beat a new comer with no real experience and if he looses he needs to go way to the bottom of the ladder, loosing to a nobody. This shit is ridiculous. Guys get 3 or 4 wins against nobodies and they think they deserve title shots.
Sounds like another great fighter that the ufc just cant keep happy. Might be time to switch organizations fitch.
[quote comment=”326160″][quote comment=”326137″][quote comment=”326127″]I see him fighting GSP in the near future.[/quote]
Fitch vs. GSP will be the best welterweight championship match that the UFC has to offer. Its inevitable that these 2 will meet up sometime in 2008.
As for Fitch, I think he has the skills and mental toughness to beat anyone in the welterweight division not named GSP. I say he destroys Matt Hughes! He has what it takes to beat GSP, but my money would still be on GSP in that one![/quote]
Yeah man I don’t know, I just don’t see GSP and Fitch being teh biggest WW fight ever, I see GSP controlling most of the time, GSP and Fitch to me are very similar styles, GSP just being the better, more explosive version. But besides GSP, Fitch can indeed hang with anyone.[/quote]
Not the biggest welterweight title fight ever, but it will be the best welterweight title shot available out of this current group of top 10 welterweights…. I do agree that GSP would thrash Fitch as well, but Fitch has a better chance against GSP than most.
[quote comment=”326665″]I hope Fitch does not get a shot at the belt after this win. This fight will prove absolutely nothing, but that he can beat a new comer with no real experience and if he looses he needs to go way to the bottom of the ladder, loosing to a nobody. This shit is ridiculous. Guys get 3 or 4 wins against nobodies and they think they deserve title shots.[/quote]
Interesting how the WW is the toughest division in UFC and yet it’s filled with “nobodies” Just because you don’t know shit about MMA and sportscenter didn’t cover his fights, you think these fighters are weak?
This fight proves fitch has balls and that he fights anyone anywhere.
BTW - When did GSP become invincable, he got his ass worked by Serra and now he’s expected to remain undefeated for all time???
[quote comment=”326665″]I hope Fitch does not get a shot at the belt after this win. This fight will prove absolutely nothing, but that he can beat a new comer with no real experience and if he looses he needs to go way to the bottom of the ladder, loosing to a nobody. This shit is ridiculous. Guys get 3 or 4 wins against nobodies and they think they deserve title shots.[/quote]
Fitch has won more than 3 to 4 fights in a row in the UFC. He actually won 3 plus 4 = 7 fighting in a row in the UFC. And are you saying that a fighter must fight in the UFC and you must have heard of him before declaring him a good fighter? That is ridiculous. If you only watch the UFC, then how would you expect to know about anyone that fights outside of the UFC?
BTW, there is a WW fighter named Jake Shields that would also provide some stiff competition against GSP. However, he fights in EliteXC so you probably never heard of him, so the UFC shouldn’t even bother trying to sign him after his contract. LOL, I think you’ve been drinking too much of that Dana-ade.
Chris Wilson is actually an IFL fighter, so he has fought on television in the past.
PS. I don’t religiously watch the IFL, but I know who their good fighters are.
[quote comment=”327296″][quote comment=”326665″]I hope Fitch does not get a shot at the belt after this win. This fight will prove absolutely nothing, but that he can beat a new comer with no real experience and if he looses he needs to go way to the bottom of the ladder, loosing to a nobody. This shit is ridiculous. Guys get 3 or 4 wins against nobodies and they think they deserve title shots.[/quote]
Fitch has won more than 3 to 4 fights in a row in the UFC. He actually won 3 plus 4 = 7 fighting in a row in the UFC. And are you saying that a fighter must fight in the UFC and you must have heard of him before declaring him a good fighter? That is ridiculous. If you only watch the UFC, then how would you expect to know about anyone that fights outside of the UFC?
BTW, there is a WW fighter named Jake Shields that would also provide some stiff competition against GSP. However, he fights in EliteXC so you probably never heard of him, so the UFC shouldn’t even bother trying to sign him after his contract. LOL, I think you’ve been drinking too much of that Dana-ade.
Chris Wilson is actually an IFL fighter, so he has fought on television in the past.
PS. I don’t religiously watch the IFL, but I know who their good fighters are.[/quote]
ViolentMike: Speaking of Jake Sheilds, who do u think would win in a fight: Jake Sheilds vs. Carlos Condit?
[quote comment=”327072″][quote comment=”326160″][quote comment=”326137″][quote comment=”326127″]I see him fighting GSP in the near future.[/quote]
Fitch vs. GSP will be the best welterweight championship match that the UFC has to offer. Its inevitable that these 2 will meet up sometime in 2008.
As for Fitch, I think he has the skills and mental toughness to beat anyone in the welterweight division not named GSP. I say he destroys Matt Hughes! He has what it takes to beat GSP, but my money would still be on GSP in that one![/quote]
Yeah man I don’t know, I just don’t see GSP and Fitch being teh biggest WW fight ever, I see GSP controlling most of the time, GSP and Fitch to me are very similar styles, GSP just being the better, more explosive version. But besides GSP, Fitch can indeed hang with anyone.[/quote]
Not the biggest welterweight title fight ever, but it will be the best welterweight title shot available out of this current group of top 10 welterweights…. I do agree that GSP would thrash Fitch as well, but Fitch has a better chance against GSP than most.[/quote]
I can back that. Yeah Fitch is very very resiliant and strong, I see it going like GSP/Hughes the very first fight, GSP playing the part of Hughes, and Fitch the part of GSP, he did pretty good, impressed most, but just comes up a bit short in light of the champ GSP.
ohhhhhhhhh, nice one John. That is a fight that I’d pay to see. I would think that Jake Sheild’s experience factor and quality of opposition would come into factor here. Jake has been in there with some of the best in the world and Carlos has not. A good portion of the fight would most likely take place on the ground, with Jake on top. He would have to be super careful because Condit has one of the quickest, most aggressive, guards around. If you leave a limb open for a fraction of a second, goodnite. I would think that Jake would win this fight about 65% of the time, often times by decision. In a 5 rounder, it would come down to who gasses first because neither are accustomed to going that distance.
What do you think?
[quote comment=”327554″]ohhhhhhhhh, nice one John. That is a fight that I’d pay to see. I would think that Jake Sheild’s experience factor and quality of opposition would come into factor here. Jake has been in there with some of the best in the world and Carlos has not. A good portion of the fight would most likely take place on the ground, with Jake on top. He would have to be super careful because Condit has one of the quickest, most aggressive, guards around. If you leave a limb open for a fraction of a second, goodnite. I would think that Jake would win this fight about 65% of the time, often times by decision. In a 5 rounder, it would come down to who gasses first because neither are accustomed to going that distance.
What do you think?[/quote]
As usual, I dont see much different than how you analyzed the fight. It would be on hell of a fight thats for sure. I would have to make Sheilds the favorite because of the experience factor you clearly mentioned, but Condit would be in the fight the whole time. If I had to guess, I would say it would be an awesome fight that goes the distance with Sheilds winning a very close and hard fought split decision.
As for a 5 rounder….WOW!!!! I think a 5 rounder is the only chance of one of these fighters finishing the other. It will take some heavy fatigue or a crucial mistake for one of these fighters to be finished by the other. Its such a shame that Condit is signed to Zuffa because this makes the chances of seeing this fight highly unlikely.
I would like to find out how much longer Diaz and Sheilds are signed with eliteXC… Zuffa has to get their greedy palms on those 2 fighters. Why in the world did they ever let Diaz leave in the 1st place. While they are both signed with Elite XC, I hope they have a cross promotional even with a japanease organization which would give us fans some Big Time matches involving sheilds and Diaz.
For starters EliteXC should be working their butts of to put together Gomi vs. Diaz II. That was one of te greatest MMA matches of all time IMO and a rematch would be a huge money maker that would just sell itself.
Hey they could match up Sheilds vs. Mach Sakurai or even Shinya Akoi because both Akoi and Mach fight at 155 lb or 170.
I would definetly pay for a cross promo event between Elite XC vs. WVR or DREAM. Think of the possible card it could come up with:
Main event:
Gomi vs. Nick Diaz II
Main Card:
Sheilds vs. Sakurai
Yoshida vs. Antonio Silva
KJ noons vs. Akoi
Kimbo vs. Bob Sapp (Japanease love Bob sapp and freak shows)
James Thompson vs. Fujita
That would be a hell of an event
Hey guys,
Jake Shields and Carlos Condit already fought. Jake beat Yushin Okami and Condit in the same night.
[quote comment=”326264″]If Fitch GSP does indeed happen in 2008 I don’t really see anywhere Fitch has an advantage. After seing him brush off Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck takedowns and then take them both down I find it relitivly hard to fathom Fitch being able to take GSP down or stop GSP from taking him down. On the ground I think GSP has the better Jui-Jitsu and on the feet he has a far superior striking game. Fitch is a great fighter, but he doesn’t match up well against a fighter like GSP, he is just on another level.[/quote]
I agree, well said DB.
[quote comment=”327742″]Hey guys,
Jake Shields and Carlos Condit already fought. Jake beat Yushin Okami and Condit in the same night.[/quote]
Thanks for the info. Could you please tell me what organization and what event these fights took place in?
[quote comment=”328929″][quote comment=”327742″]Hey guys,
Jake Shields and Carlos Condit already fought. Jake beat Yushin Okami and Condit in the same night.[/quote]
Thanks for the info. Could you please tell me what organization and what event these fights took place in?[/quote]
Fitch chiming in on the conversation… I love it, Thanks buddy, but shouldn’t you be taining right now? LOL, just kidding Fitch, good luck on Saturday!!!! After you win, during the interview you should say something along the lines of that you are more qualified and more deserving of a title shot than than little punk Karo that keeps on ducking you. A true champion does not run from any challenger.
As for Shields vs Condit, the fight actually happened EXACTLY as we predicted John… They fought at Rumble on the Rock in April of 06, which wasn’t even that long ago either. I have never seen a Rumble on the Rock event live, I really wish that I had the opportunity to. Shields won by unanimous decision. (Condit submitted Frank Trigg in the prior fight that night)
And back to FITCH, what are your thoughts on Shields and Condit? Do you agree with me and John? Which one of them would pose the most thread to you in a fight?