UFC: Jon Fitch Wants B.J. Penn to Wait for His Return

Previously scheduled for a rematch with B.J. Penn at UFC 132, Jon Fitch was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a shoulder injury that will keep him out of the Octagon for four-to-six months after undergoing surgery.

The 32-year-old Penn was forced to withdraw from a search for a new opponent for UFC 132 after he also suffered an injury in training.

Now, ESPN is reporting that Fitch would like Penn to remain inactive as well until the two fighters can have their rematch.

"It's the best fight for each of us," Fitch said, "I think it would be dumb for either of us to take a fight with anybody else but each other before we settle it."

Heading into their original fight, the winner between Fitch and Penn was to be promised a shot at the welterweight title. After the two fought to a draw at UFC 127, the division is still looking for a top contender to meet the winner of next week's fight between UFC Welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre and Jake Shields.

Fitch believes that there is plenty of time for the two to meet once again before either would be called on to fight for the belt.

"Either me or BJ would love to just fight the winner of Jake [Shields] and [Georges St-Pierre], but I think it's realistic that if Jake wins that fight, that there will be a rematch. And if GSP wins that fight, he only fights a couple times a year. So he'll probably take a break, and there will be time for [Penn and me] to fight. If GSP moves up to fight Anderson [Silva], there's still time for him to do that and me and BJ to fight."

For quite some time now, Fitch has been considered the second best welterweight in the world, but he has been unable to earn a second shot at the welterweight title since losing to St-Pierre in August 2008.

Sean Smith is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @BR_Sean_Smith.