What To Do With Jon Fitch: Five Options for the UFC

Is there really a fight that anyone wants to see Jon Fitch in?

I'm sure there are some die-hard Fitch heads out there, but I don't know any of you and you would confuse me if I did.

Nonetheless, Fitch is one of the best fighters in the world and he has to fight somebody. Following his fifth consecutive decision win—this one over top contender Thiago Alves—Fitch is in need of something big.

To vary a line from Woody Allen: a UFC contender is like a shark, it has to constantly move forward to stay alive.

Jon Fitch can't go backwards at this point. He has incrementally stepped up the level of opponent with each fight since his lone loss to champion Georges St. Pierre. After putting five quality wins together since that failed title bid, he deserves another big fight.

But against who?

Fitch is the epitome of a grinder. Watching him control an opponent while inflicting as little damage as possible for fifteen minutes leaves me inclined to subtract the word "fight" in describing one of his UFC matches.

As long as he keeps winning, there is no reason he should switch anything up. There is no arguing with his resume, but this is a business and Fitch does not put many butts in the seats.

So, what would be an attractive and realistic fight for the Hoosier in his next fight, if there is one?

There has been some talk of a move to middleweight to find something they could market, but surely that is not in the plans of Fitch. He wants to keep winning and become champ at welterweight, and he is not concerned with ticket sales. Fitch is the kind of fighter that doesn't see a point in having a nickname or gimmick, so clearly he will only accept a fight that will boost his stock in his own division.

Let us explore five possible options for Fitch's next fight.

5. Matt Hughes

Much has been made about every welterweight from San Jose's American Kick-boxing Academy calling out the former champ Matt Hughes, and subsequently having those requests ignored by both Hughes and the UFC.

While there are many that might figure Hughes too far past his prime to be competitive with Fitch, Hughes did prove that he still has some kick left by submitting Ricardo Almeida this past weekend. And there is no debating that Hughes would be a marquee name to match with Fitch, especially with the subplot of Fitch's calling out of Hughes.

This fight would be a good indication as to where Hughes stands in the welterweight scheme, and it would also be a chance for Fitch to put a Hall of Famer and former champion's name on his resume.

Though the action might end up equally uneventful as each of Fitch's recent fights, the narratives heading into the fight might keep the fans interested throughout 15 minutes of struggling for position.

4. Winner Of Condit/ Hardy

At UFC 120, former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit meets former UFC title challenger Dan Hardy in a highly anticipated clash of heavy hitters.

Though the winner would certainly set themselves up for a big fight, neither would have earned a shot at the belt in the following fight. Condit would certainly be close, but he would need another big win to convince the UFC he was worthy.

And while Dan Hardy is a very talented fighter that would give most any welterweight problems, he did just have his chance at the belt and came up very short.

Why not have the winner fight the No. 2 guy in the division and see if they can earn a crack at St. Pierre?

Obvious to most, Fitch's style would be a nightmare for Hardy, but there have been numerous reports of Hardy working exclusively on his takedown defense and grappling. We would undoubtedly see the benefit—or lack there of—of that work in a fight with Fitch. Also, there is the subplot of Fitch avenging his training partner Mike Swick's loss to Hardy last year.

Condit is a well-rounded warrior that will make a fight with anyone. I will never count Condit out of a fight, no matter the opponent. If he can get past Hardy, Condit would be one of the most attractive options for Fitch.

3. Winner Of Shields/ Kampmann

When it comes to deserving challengers for Georges St. Pierre's title, Jake Shields and Jon Fitch are the UFC welterweight division's two biggest assets.

There were many that thought Shields might get a shot at the title in his first UFC fight, and while that wouldn't be the smartest strategy for Shields, he certainly would have deserved it.

Currently on a 14-fight win streak that saw him capture the EliteXC welterweight title and the Strikeforce middleweight title, while also winning the Rumble on the Rock welterweight tournament, Shields is as deserving a challenger for St. Pierre as there is.

But, despite his many accolades, Shields has never fought in the UFC and if he was to get a title shot in his first appearance, the criticisms would be many from the UFC loyalists. Instead, the UFC offered him talented contender Martin Kampmann.

Kampmann is coming off a very impressive shutout decision over Paulo Thiago at UFC 115. While he will be the underdog heading into his meeting with Shields at UFC 121, Kampmann is beyond question a tough fight for anyone.

There is some debate about who would be further up the UFC welterweight ladder between Fitch and the winner of Fitch vs. Kampmann, so why not have them fight it out to decide who gets the opportunity?

However, that would turn two challenges for the champ into one.

2. Loser Of St. Pierre/ Koscheck

A very interesting idea would be for Fitch to face the loser of the upcoming title fight between champion Georges St. Pierre and challenger Josh Kosckeck.

If you follow the UFC welterweight division, you likely have heard of the agreement between training partners Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck that they would never fight each other, despite being contenders in the same division.

Well, as of late, Fitch has subtly seemed to back off from that promise. Fitch is a professional, as is Koscheck, and I highly doubt either would let their friendship impede their careers.

Let's be honest, Koscheck is a very big underdog against the champion. Of course, anything can happen and Koscheck is a talented and dangerous fighter, but he is expected to be the loser.

A match between teammates would ignite quite a bit of interest between someone coming off a loss and a fighter with limited fireworks in his style. I would be very curious to see how the normally big-mouthed Koscheck would act in the lead-up to the fight, as well.

If Fitch could handle Koscheck in any better—or equal—fashion than St. Pierre, there would be a bigger desire to see them meet.

If St. Pierre were to be upset by Koscheck, a rematch with Fitch would be a decent path to reclaiming his title.

I wonder, would Fitch rather a three-round rematch with St. Pierre than a title shot against his teammate?

1. Winner Of St. Pierre/ Koscheck

There are handful of UFC fans that are vocally irritated with seeing Fitch's repetitive and identical performances. Those same critics also seem in agreement that a rematch with St. Pierre would turn out very much the same as the first fight between the two, in which Fitch took an inhuman amount of punishment in surviving all five rounds back at UFC 87.

If they want Fitch to move on to a different goal than being champion at welterweight, then what's the problem with him receiving another beating from St. Pierre to force him onto new challenges?

When it became clear that Rich Franklin had no chance of beating Anderson Silva for the middleweight title, he decided to move on to more interesting catch-weight and light heavyweight fights. Fitch would have to follow a similar track in finding interesting matchups above welterweight.

I can list a handful of interesting fights I would love to see Fitch in at middleweight. I'd certainly pay to see if Fitch could control Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen, or Vitor Belfort at 185 lbs.

If Koscheck were to win against St. Pierre, Fitch would have a much better chance at becoming champ, if he were willing to meet his teammate. And as I've already stated, Koscheck and Fitch meeting would be filled with interesting storylines.

For me, the main fight I want to see at this point from Fitch is another shot at the title. Let's see if he can do any better, and if he can't, let's be done with Fitch as a 170 lb. UFC contender.

As stated earlier, a contender has to move forward to stay alive. If Fitch can't become champion, it is time for a new phase in his career.