[alizio]

Tim Ngo | April 01, 2010

It's been almost 20 months since welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre dominated Jon Fitch at UFC 87. Although the 25-minute thrashing was the nastiest beating he'd ever received, Fitch believes he's much improved and would take out the planet's baddest 170-pounder if he were granted a rematch.
"I'm a better fighter than I was the first time we fought and I want a title shot," Fitch stated after posting a lopsided victory over last-minute replacement Ben Saunders at UFC 111. "I think I'm at the point where I can technically matchup with him and I'm just waiting for the opportunity to prove it."

After collecting his fourth consecutive unanimous decision win, it was GSP 101 time for Fitch as he paid close attention to the night's main event between the division's reigning king and Dan Hardy.

"It was a good fight for him and I still see flaws in his game and that's why I'd like to fight him next," Fitch said of St-Pierre's inability to finish Hardy despite catching the Brit in two tight arm submissions. "I thought he would have done a little more ground-and-pound, thrown some more elbows, but he controlled the fight. He lost some vital opportunities to finish with the kimura, armbars and even his back control.

"There's nothing more important to me right now than fighting for a title."

UFC president Dana White is fully aware of Fitch's aspirations for a mulligan against St-Pierre, however instead of giving the wrestler what he wants, White opted to stir the American Kickboxing Academy pot by throwing a proposed AKA vs. AKA welterweight affair on the table.

"There's no doubt [Fitch's] in the mix. Maybe we do him and [Josh] Koscheck for the number one spot," White said of clearing up the 170-pound logjam at the Northern California-based academy.

"I wouldn't be open to that," Fitch said of their sacred pact.

To which White fired back with, "He doesn't want the title shot that bad then."

"If that fight had to happen, it would happen in our gym with the doors closed," Fitch stated.

"That would make a lot of money," White sarcastically said.

Kos has already been confirmed to co-headline "UFC 113: Machida vs. Shogun II" on May 8th against British slugging sensation Paul Daley, so it's interesting that White would try to create drama among the teammates at this point in time.

Dana pretty much openly mocked Fitch at the post fight.

I wonder if this is building a rift with AKA. Altho Dana seems to be treating Cain very well. I cant think that the WWs there are loving this??

I dont mind Danas stance but then he has to stand up to some guys he does like, not just guys he doesnt like Fitch.

He now has to say the same type of things to Machida and Anderson etc IMO or it just looks like a personal attack on Jon, which it may be since that whole image rights thing.

thoughts??

 

[Soojooko]

Anderson and Machida fight at different weights. Lil Nog could be an issue. The AKA boys fight at same weight and are also both top 5. Big problems.

Lets say, Fitch beats GSP... No, scrap that, too ridiculous...

Lets say, GSP goes to MW, Who fights for the belt? straight away, problems.

Lets say, Fitch fights Alves for the belt and wins. Then Kos wins a fight or 2 and becomes #1 contender. That right there is a steaming pile of shitty problems.

Anybody who can lay it out nice and clear, how the top 2 fighters in a division can co-exist without fighting, I would appreciate it.

 

[alizio]

you have Anderson fighting former champions and top 5s at LHW, whats the point if he wont fight Machida?? taking out contenders to protect Machida??

Same for JDS and Nog, altho it doesnt look like a big prob now.

Daley and Hardy. etc etc etc the list is actually rather big.

 

[Spec0688]

ummm... this was written yesterday? This is basically the exact same stuff that was said the day of the PPV. I find it funny that this writter is trying to be "unique" or whatever you want to call it by doing this article a week after the fight.

 

[Soojooko]

you have Anderson fighting former champions and top 5s at LHW, whats the point if he wont fight Machida?? taking out contenders to protect Machida??

Same for JDS and Nog, altho it doesnt look like a big prob now.

Daley and Hardy. etc etc etc the list is actually rather big.

But this is speculation. Silva has dabbled with the LHW division. No more no less. The rest is all talk... mainly from Dana. Lets see him take on Rua, Rampage, Rashad or some other legit contender. Then I will stand with you and say this is hypocrisy from the UFC.

Daley and Hardy are not top of the food chain in the WW division. Kos and Fitch most certainly are. These fighters can talk about not fighting each other till the cows come home... I dont care about that. Its as relevant as trash talk. Like I said, means nothing unless Fitch and Kos become the top 2. Then they better get ready to fix up and get it on.

 

[alizio]

But this is speculation. Silva has dabbled with the LHW division. No more no less. The rest is all talk... mainly from Dana. Lets see him take on Rua, Rampage, Rashad or some other legit contender. Then I will stand with you and say this is hypocrisy from the UFC.

Daley and Hardy are not top of the food chain in the WW division. Kos and Fitch most certainly are. These fighters can talking about not fighting each other till the cows come home... I dont care about that. Its as relevant as trash talk. Like I said, means nothing unless Fitch and Kos become the top 2. Then they better get ready to fix up and get it on.

so, your of the mind that teammates should only fight for belts or number 1 contendership??

im not saying that is right or wrong, just trying to clarify.

For example. If Daley loses to Kos (very possible) then wouldnt a matchup with Hardy make alot of sense?? Both just lost to top guys and can rebound right away. It would be a helluva fight as both guys love to bang, right up their alley.

i just think everybody should fight, anytime. I grew up in a boxing enviroment and later a wrestling one and i cant imagine turning down FREE fight with a teammate, nevermind you both get paid and get fans to watch.

it should be an honor. The guys at Golden Glory fight each other all the time and they are still the best kickboxing camp in the world, so whats the prob??

 

[Vale_Tudo]

To which White fired back with, "He doesn't want the title shot that bad then."

This is why I love Dana!
Hell, I say give the title shot to Paulo Thiago instead just to make a point, and he's already taken out 2 of the 3 AKA guys.

 

[Soojooko]

so, your of the mind that teammates should only fight for belts or number 1 contendership??

im not saying that is right or wrong, just trying to clarify.

For example. If Daley loses to Kos (very possible) then wouldnt a matchup with Hardy make alot of sense?? Both just lost to top guys and can rebound right away. It would be a helluva fight as both guys love to bang, right up their alley.

i just think everybody should fight, anytime. I grew up in a boxing enviroment and later a wrestling one and i cant imagine turning down FREE fight with a teammate, nevermind you both get paid and get fans to watch.

it should be an honor. The guys at Golden Glory fight each other all the time and they are still the best kickboxing camp in the world, so whats the prob??

what I'm saying is that the further away from the top you are, the more options there are for opponents. For example, there are only a select few fighters that would make viable opponents for Fitch. We all know who they are : GSP, Alves and Kos. However, Hardy being lower end of the rankings has many many options making it easier for the UFC to keep him and Daley separate.

Thats my point. I dont care about fighters saying they wont fight. Thats cool. Its not really a problem. BUT, you start ******* around with everything if you are the top 2 and wont fight. Its a situation that is unsustainable. If Kos eats up all the challengers, who will Fitch fight? If any fighter becomes the 3rd best in the division, does he fight Kos or Fitch. Am I making sense, or should I go and sleep for a bit?...

EDIT. Daley crushing Kos would be both very enjoyable and also solve this whole nonsense for now.

 

[Icculus]

nobody is more ready than Fitch.

Still, I like having gsp fight kos (after beating daley) next, and having Fitch fight Alves for the next shot.

Paulo Thiago's mix of great BJJ and great striking could possibly cause GSP some trouble but if Fitch can grind him out then GSP surely can. They'll probably keep him away from Fitch and Kos for a couple fights so they can build him up as another contender.

 

[Sicilian_Esq]

I love Fitch. But I agree with Dana on two grounds:

1) Fitch isn't ready. He hasn't grown as a figther. He solidifies himself as the #2 WW with each consecutive win, but we haven't seen anything different from Fitch post-GSP than what we saw Pre-GSP.

2) It's time to break up the powerhouse gym of AKA a bit. I understand the hesitancy to fight a teammate, b/c that teammate knows your weaknesses the best, but really, I think that is what is needed to make each of these guys better.

 

[BobbyCooper]

If Fitch get's past Alves, then I really don't see how Dana still can deny him a second shot. I truly believe that Jon's next fight will be Alves for the number one contender spot.

Then I see Kos (if he get's past Daley) against Paulo Thiago for the next number one spot. But I doupt GSP will still be a WW after this fight.

George will probably defend his title one more time until he moves up. I hope^^

 

[TKOSPIKE]

George will probably defend his title one more time until he moves up. I hope^^

idk about that i heard from somewhere that he wants to beat hughes record for most consecutive title defences. which means that he would need one more to tie up with hughes (hughes has 5) and another one after that to beat him. personally i want to see him do that before moving up:thumb02:

 

[BobbyCooper]

That's true I heard that too well, ok let's say he fights 3 times this year ( very unlikely ), then I really wouldn't mind even one more title defense.

I heard his name also in talks as a coach from TUF.. hope that isn't true!

 

[Canadian Psycho]

Here's my take on the situation. I assume that most people here watched the inaugural edition of TUF 11 this passed week. Charley Lynch and Clayton McKinney both confessed to being very close friends and training partners, yet this stopped neither man from fighting one another. And it certainly didn't stop Clayton from breaking Charley's nose in three. These two accepted the fact that certain opportunities only come around but once in a lifetime, and that you have to be willing to fight for them when they arise. That's the type of passion and dedication to the sport that I assume Dana admires in his fighters. Even after these two ran rough shot over one another, they embraced like brothers, both men smiling and thrilled to have put on a show. So how can I truly accept the excuse that friends can't fight friends because it's emotionally detrimental?

This is MMA. The right attitude to have is that of fighting anyone, any time, any where. You do what you have to do in order to be known as the best. What if Josh beats Daley, and goes on to fight GSP and win the title (absurd, I know, but work with me). Am I to believe that Fitch will ultimately be happy as the number two fighter at WW, playing the role as gate keeper to Josh's throne? Especially after explicitly stating that the one and only thing he fights for is a chance at being the best? Vice versa: Would Josh be happy in the same role? I've my doubts. If Kos beats Daley, and it's very likely, then how is a number one contender's bout between Fitch and Josh not the most appropriate way to figure out who will challenge GSP next? Dana is a fight promoter, not a middle man for friends. He shouldn't have to appease Jon and Koscheck by giving one the shot, and then sticking the other in with Alves so as to keep the 'buddies' separated. That's not the business he's in. He's not a protector of friendships.

If Jon isn't willing to do his job, regardless of who his opponent is, then in my mind, he's only half a fighter. He has the spirit to hang tough and grind it out when he has to, and he most definitely has the will to win. But as I mentioned earlier, a big part of being a professional fighter is also having the will to fight anyone, any where, at any time. Jon clearly doesn't possess that manner of thinking, so Dana is correct when he says that Fitch must not want the title all that badly. Besides, any friendship that is worth its weight would survive one professional bout, especially given the implications.

 

[michelangelo]

That would be perfect timing for Georges. It would allow him the requisite time to bulk up gradually so that he would be competitive in size with the majority of UFC middleweights.

GSP is at 193 right now before he cuts weight, so it's likely he would need to reach 200 + before he was big enough to compete for a title at 185. Remember, Anderson is 6'2" and cuts from 215 and I'm sure Georges is well aware of the size disparity.

Even after moving up, GSP would be able to gradually put on lean mass.

GSP will move up, but not until he's darn well and ready.

idk about that i heard from somewhere that he wants to beat hughes record for most consecutive title defences. which means that he would need one more to tie up with hughes (hughes has 5) and another one after that to beat him. personally i want to see him do that before moving up:thumb02:

 

[Fieos]

Back on topic...

Fitch isn't ready for another title shot. I see absolutely no growth in him as a fighter since his last title shot. I also completely agree with Dana that if they won't fight each other then they don't get title shots. If they can't get past that headache now, it will cause all sorts of problems if one of them is ever a champion.

Ultimately AKA doesn't have the talent to hold this 170lb division hostage. Dana can use them to filter contenders like he has been doing. GSP > AKA

 

[limba]

I want GSP vs Fitch now!
Because: Kos is figting Daley in may and GSP would have to wait to much to fight again. And i think he wants to get back in the octagon asap. Both GSP and Fitch would have the same time to prepare the fight and i think it's a good ideea.
Let the winner of Kos-Daley face Thiago Alves next.
I would realy like to see GSP-Fitch 2. I think it would be entertaining.

 

[BobbyCooper]

I would realy like to see GSP-Fitch 2. I think it would be entertaining.

I am also not that averse of a rematch :thumbsup:

 

[Parabola]

If Fitch defeats Thiago Alves in am impressive fashion, then yes give him a title shot. Otherwise, he should get another win and maybe then grant him a title shot.

I would like to see Koscheck beat Paulo Thiago before he gets a title shot (provided he beats Semtex, which he will :thumbsup

 

[limba]

I am also not that averse of a rematch :thumbsup:

YES. let them fight.
Otherwise, who is still available to face GSP?
He would have to wait to long for the winner of Kos-Daley. And BTW i don't want Daley to get a shot, even if he takes Kos out. 3 fights aren't enough to get a shot. Remember how , at one point some were talking about Rumble, as a possible contender?!
I see Fitch as the perfect opponent for GSP.