A welterweight matchup between perennial contender Jon Fitch (23-3-1 MMA, 13-1-1 UFC) and fast-rising prospect Johny Hendricks (11-1 MMA, 6-1 UFC) is in the works for December's UFC 141 event. UFC officials today announced the bout. Fitch and Hendricks were originally linked together for a possible appearance at UFC 139 but instead meet at UFC 141. UFC officials have since confirmed the booking. Featuring a heavyweight main event between Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, UFC 141 takes place on Dec. 30 at Las Vegas' MGM Grand Garden Arena. Fitch fights for the first time since a February draw with B.J. Penn. The two were expected to meet in a rematch at this summer's UFC 132 event, but Fitch was forced to withdraw from the contest due to injury. Penn has since been matched up with Nick Diaz at UFC 137. Meanwhile, Hendricks looks to build on the the strength of back-to-back wins over Mike Pierce and T.J. Waldburger. The four-time All-American wrestler has lost just once as a professional, but the bout with Fitch provides his highest-ranked opponent to date
Fitch should take this, but Hendricks has the both the size and the wrestling pedigree to stop the takedown and turn this into a stand-up fight. That's intriguing, as Hendricks is a solid striker and he certainly has better power than Fitch does. I actually think this is a tougher fight for Fitch than some of the higher ranked fighters he could take down and grind on, like Thiago Alves. This is one Jon Fitch fight you probably want to watch.
What makes you think he can stuff him, One Punch? I don't really think credentials come into it when Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck and GSP are concerned. They seem to be able to take down anyone.
Fitch is a favourite in every fight except GSP. BJ is the only other guy who creates doubt and I can't believe that rematch hasn't been made. A lack of immediate rematches in combat is ****ing criminal! I always find Fitch's match ups uninspiring. The Alves fight is the last one that I got excited about. I want to see fights that test people and potentially expose flaws or brillance. Names like Saunders, Pierce and Gono are good but they don't excite. Neither does Hendricks. On top of that, it is likely to not be exciting and go to decision. Fitch needs better match making. I'd prefer Fitch vs Penn II, even Fitch vs Shields. Sanchez or Kampmann would be interesting.
Well, on paper Hendricks should be the best wrestler Fitch has faced bar GSP, and if you look at his recent fights, a lot of the boring decisions he's won are against guys who are primarily strikers - the likes of Alves, Saunders and Gono. I agree that credentials don't tell the whole story, but Hendricks shouldn't be taken down easily given his accomplishments. I'm not swayed by his poor takedowns against Rick Story and Mike Pierce either. Getting a takedown and stuffing one are too separate arts, and Hendricks looks solid on the latter, especially when you factor in the size advantage he'll have. As GSP has shown us, Fitch can certainly be beaten if he can't get his opponent to the mat, as his stand-up is nothing to write home about.
Really glad the UFC had given Hendricks a step up. Really is a very good fighter but has been on the fringes of being a contender for a while now. Think this might be a step too much at the minute but hope he can pull it off.
