After being promised another UFC welterweight title shot, Jon Fitch has had the opportunity taken away from him. It isn't the first time.
Instead of biding his time and waiting for a second chance at Georges St. Pierre, and or Josh Koscheck, Fitch has, reluctantly I'm sure, agreed to face Jake Ellenberger at UFC 126 in February. Jake Shields, who was less than impressive in a split decision over Martin Kampmann recently, will assume the top contender spot.
I don't have any gripes with Shields receiving a title shot. None. He's been the top welterweight outside of the UFC for a number of years now and his record speaks for itself. He's as worthy a contender as there has ever been to be quite honest.
Assuming St. Pierre dispatches of Koscheck this December, the truth of the matter is that time is running out for Fitch to receive another crack at the Canadian. A win over Shields will mean that St. Pierre has "cleaned out" the UFC's 170 lb. division. TWICE.
Showing posts with label Jon Fitch. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jon Fitch. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Impressions of UFC 117
UFC 117 was the first major event that I've been able to watch live in quite a while. I'm glad I made the decision to do so. The main card delivered something for every type of fan from a heavyweight slugfest to a tactical ground battle to a come-from-behind victory for the ages. It was nice to see.
- Chael Sonnen backed up his trash talk. Who would have thought he would dominate Anderson Silva over four and a half rounds, let alone a single one at all? Not me. When the fight began, I thought that Sonnen would take the first round similar to how Dan Henderson and Travis Lutter had done to Silva in the past. I had no idea he would continue to do so throughout the rest of the bout. What a heartbreaking loss for Sonnen, but props to Silva for staying focused and aware enough to pull off a last-minute submission. An immediate rematch has to be in order. Sorry, Vitor Belfort.
- Jon Fitch looked great in action while Thiago Alves looked exactly the opposite. Be it the weight cut, ring rust, or another unknown ailment, Alves didn't look himself and allowed Fitch to throw him around the cage like a rag doll for fifteen minutes. Fitch was promised a title shot before the bout, but if Georges St. Pierre is victorious over Josh Koscheck in December, I wouldn't be surprised to see the winner of Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampmann receive the honors instead. However, you know Dana white is foaming at the mouth to finally pair Fitch and Koscheck together and throw AKA in a frenzy.
- Although I picked Almeida to win, I was ecstatic to see Matt Hughes not only pick up his third straight win, but to choke Almeida, a highly-ranked BJJ black belt, unconscious. I'm very excited to see Hughes back in the welterweight title picture after being left for dead. I guess it's the nostalgia of the whole thing.
- Joe Rogan's comments during Junior Dos Santos' three-round mauling of Roy Nelson were dead-on: the Brazilian needs to mix up his offense. Knees, elbows and kicks would have allowed him to finish Nelson. Throwing nothing but punches obviously did not. Kudos to Nelson, who now has us questioning whether his chin and heart are bigger than his stomach. As for JDS' shot at the winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez, I unfortunately don't see him having much of a chance against either.
- Chael Sonnen backed up his trash talk. Who would have thought he would dominate Anderson Silva over four and a half rounds, let alone a single one at all? Not me. When the fight began, I thought that Sonnen would take the first round similar to how Dan Henderson and Travis Lutter had done to Silva in the past. I had no idea he would continue to do so throughout the rest of the bout. What a heartbreaking loss for Sonnen, but props to Silva for staying focused and aware enough to pull off a last-minute submission. An immediate rematch has to be in order. Sorry, Vitor Belfort.
- Jon Fitch looked great in action while Thiago Alves looked exactly the opposite. Be it the weight cut, ring rust, or another unknown ailment, Alves didn't look himself and allowed Fitch to throw him around the cage like a rag doll for fifteen minutes. Fitch was promised a title shot before the bout, but if Georges St. Pierre is victorious over Josh Koscheck in December, I wouldn't be surprised to see the winner of Jake Shields vs. Martin Kampmann receive the honors instead. However, you know Dana white is foaming at the mouth to finally pair Fitch and Koscheck together and throw AKA in a frenzy.
- Although I picked Almeida to win, I was ecstatic to see Matt Hughes not only pick up his third straight win, but to choke Almeida, a highly-ranked BJJ black belt, unconscious. I'm very excited to see Hughes back in the welterweight title picture after being left for dead. I guess it's the nostalgia of the whole thing.
- Joe Rogan's comments during Junior Dos Santos' three-round mauling of Roy Nelson were dead-on: the Brazilian needs to mix up his offense. Knees, elbows and kicks would have allowed him to finish Nelson. Throwing nothing but punches obviously did not. Kudos to Nelson, who now has us questioning whether his chin and heart are bigger than his stomach. As for JDS' shot at the winner of Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez, I unfortunately don't see him having much of a chance against either.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
