Former UFC star Jon Fitch is a free agent after announcing his departure from PFL and is now in talks with Bellator.
Fitch 39 with a record of 30-7-1 hasn’t fought since June of last year when he beat Brian Foster, his previous fight before that was a win over Jake Shields.
Fitch challenged GSP for the UFC welterweight title in 2008 during his run with the UFC, before being released in 2013, unfairly in my opinion. In his last 3 fights with the UFC Fitch lost to the red hot at the time Johny Hendricks upset Erick Silva and in his last fight with the UFC lost to Demian Maia at UFC 156.
Fitch had an impressive 13-4-1 record in the UFC when he was released and was still a top 10 welterweight at the time of his release. His release created a storm on social media, much of it aimed at Dana White. At the time White had this to say in response to his critics:
“Jon Fitch was ranked number nine, OK, however you want to look at that, he’s ranked number nine, whether it’s right or wrong or the rankings are bull—- or whatever,” Ranked number nine right now. Now, this isn’t a case where Jon Fitch was ranked No. 9, No. 7, No. 6, No. 4, No. 2 and then we cut him. He was ranked No. 1, fought for the title and then he was ranked No. 2. He was ranked No. 3, 6, 7, and now he’s 9. That’s called the downside of your career. He’s on the downside.”
Fitch has, of course, moved on from the controversy, but he is at the stage of his career where he needs to be more active and to get what he can out of the rest of his career.
Bellator and Fitch look a perfect fit, Bellator will give Fitch the platform he deserves.
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