Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva (UFC 153)

[Rob_Floyd]

Jul 30, 2012 - Jon Fitch will draw one of the UFC's top young guns in his next outing.

The longtime welterweight contender is set to square off with Brazilian Erick Silva at UFC 153, MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani has learned. Sources with knowledge of the situation confirmed the two had verbally agreed to the pairing.

Fitch was supposed to face Aaron Simpson in July, only to be forced out after suffering a knee injury. The setback apparently won't keep him on the shelf long. Upon returning, Fitch will be attempting to win for the first time in three fights. At UFC 127, he fought to a draw with B.J. Penn, and in his follow-up match at UFC 141, he was knocked out by Johny Hendricks, marking the first time he had been finished since 2002.

Fitch is 23-4-1 with 1 no contest.

Silva has looked spectacular in all three of his octagon outings. He debuted with a knockout of Luis Ramos at UFC 134, then appeared to earn a second straight first-round KO at UFC 142, only to be controversially disqualified for strikes to the back of the head. Silva then followed that up with a first-round submission win over Charlie Brenneman at June's UFC on FX 3.

Silva is 14-2 with 1 no contest.

Fitch will be tasked with facing Silva on his home soil, as the bout emanates from Rio on October 13.

[url]***********.mmafighting.com/ufc/2012/7/30/3205338/jon-fitch-vs-erick-silva-set-for-ufc-153[/url]


Big test for Silva. Brenneman was his first taste of a strong wrestler, but Fitch is a whole other animal.

[Primate]

Brenneman is a ****ing waste of space.

Silva has looked like a machine, but Fitch is no joke and can make good fighters look terrible. If Silva can set the pace I like him in this fight, but Fitch may well be an extra wet blanket this time out.

[thewinfella]

I believe Silva to be a) a better fighter than Rory Macdonald and b) to have more potential than Rory Macdonald

Looking down the line of opponents for the Brazilians its hard not to get the feeling its another night of decent fighters visiting the gallows

What we need to know about Silva will come out against Fitch , can't believe this fight isn't on the main card

[Vic-JofreBRASIL]

Big test indeed.....Looking forward to see how Erick will defend the TDs....

[achillesthegreat]

Serious cross road fight. If Fitch was to not win in his 3rd fight in a row and not have won for over 2 years then his chances of getting back in the title picture become very bleak.

Silva looks the real deal but we all know an elite wrestler can be kryptonite to all alive.

[greathamza]

Originally Posted by achillesthegreat

Silva looks the real deal but we all know an elite wrestler can be kryptonite to all alive.

People who have a hard time sleeping should watch jon fitch fight

[thewinfella]

I believe Silva has the skill set to make Fitch look pretty old , this may well be a Matt Hughes Thiago Alves " old meets new " style fight and Fitch gets KO'd

[Ne5ville14]

[IMG]********bonesnapper.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/HendricksKO.gif[/IMG]

[Wilhelm]

I hope Fitch wins. Not a fan of the guy, but people hate him so much it's hilarious.

[elmaldito]

silva ko rd 1!

[Stoo]

I think Erik can maintain the distance and stop the TD from the clinch that Fitch favours in this one

[Matty lll]

Originally Posted by thewinfella

I believe Silva has the skill set to make Fitch look pretty old , this may well be a Matt Hughes Thiago Alves " old meets new " style fight and Fitch gets KO'd

I hope you are right, I think Silva has a lot of potential as well.

[IronfistShields]

Originally Posted by Ne5ville14

[IMG]********bonesnapper.com/site/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/HendricksKO.gif[/IMG]

Right on the button.

[brickfists]

Silva wins this easily enough as fitch will not be allowed to lay n pray in brazil

[Rob_Floyd]

Originally Posted by brickfists

Silva wins this easily enough as fitch will not be allowed to lay n pray in brazil

Good point. I remember Anthony Johnson scoring takedowns on Belfort and getting stood up almost immediately. But I think that was just Miragliotta being Miragliotta.