Report: Jon Fitch to face Akihiro Gono at UFC 94
November 18, 2008 by Adam Morgan
According to a report at MMA Mania, Jon Fitch is set to face off against colorful Japanese fighter Akihiro Gono at UFC 94 on Super Bowl weekend. The fight was originally scheduled to take place back at UFC 82 before Gono had to pull out of the fight due to a hand injury and was replaced by Chris Wilson.
Fitch would go on to defeat Wilson via unanimous decision but his UFC winning streak ended in his very next fight, a title shot against Georges St. Pierre. Fitch is currently 8-1 in the UFC and was undefeated in the Octagon prior to meeting St. Pierre. He holds victories over some of the best UFC welterweight competitors, including Diego Sanchez and current number one contender Thiago Alves.
Akihiro Gono holds a 1-1 record inside the UFC, winning a fight via armbar against Tamdan McCrory at UFC 78 and most recently dropping a split decision loss to Dan Hardy at UFC 89. The Japanese fighter is one of the most colorful fighters in all of MMA, known for his elaborate entrances and dance moves. But he also brings a wealth of experience to the cage, having fought in 49 fights and spanning all of the major Japanese promotions.
UFC 94 is also set to include a welterweight title clash between two of the best pound for pound fighters in the world in Georges St. Pierre and B.J. Penn as well as a number one contender fight at light heavyweight between Thiago Silva and Lyoto Machida.
Fitch is in a strange place now. He owns wins over Alves and Fitch, lost to GSP, and is friends with Koscheck and Swick. Gono is a good fight. If he beats Gono, he should fight Jake Shields.
Fitch holds a win over Fitch?
“If he beats Gono, he should fight Jake Shields.”
Oooooh, good idea.
That fight would have extra meaning, as it would be revenge for a submission grappling loss Fitch had to Shields
Gono wins this by anything he wants.
I think that Fitch and Shields will fight at some point. But I depending on how long the EliteXC BS drags out, it could be Diego that gets the first shot at Shields.
sucks for gono, he’s coming off a loss
and i highly doubt Fitch will lose to anybody in the WW division besides GSP
This card is unbelievable I can’t wait!!!
MMAMania is also reporting that Fitch got sent packing from the UFC for not signing an agreement for a video game…
Is there any validity to this?! I hope not. Fitch is an exciting fighter and I think it would be a huge loss to the UFC and mma fans in general.