411Mania MMA Exclusive Interview: A Few Rounds with Jon Fitch
Posted by Bren Oliver on 04.25.2007
In perhaps the deepest weightclass in MMA few fighters have the ability to truly stand out amongst a sea of talent. Jon Fitch is the cream of the crop to those in the know. Read ahead, as one of UFC's brightest Welterweights takes some time out of his day to sit down with 411Mania to talk about his past, his present, and his blindingly bright future!
Jon Fitch is known to Mixed Martial Arts enthusiasts for his well-rounded skill set and exciting fighting style. To the casual fan he is known as...well, he tragically may not be known. But rest assured it is only a matter of time before Fitch smashes through the glass-ceiling like another opponent in the Octagon. Undefeated in UFC, underpublicized by UFC, Fitch is considered one of MMA's great young Welterweights. As this exclusive interview with 411Mania reveals, he's also one of the sport's great guys in general...
"I'm still fighting for the UFC, I'm getting paid decent and I'm winning. My time will come..."
411Mania: We last saw you submitting Luigi Fioravanti at UFC 68 this past March. How are you doing physically? Have you been given any information about who your next opponent might be you can share with our readers?
Jon Fitch: I am feeling great. I didn't get beat up at all for my last fight so I didn't need any real recovery time. I was training the following Monday to help Swick and Kos get ready for their fights. I can't make any anouncements yet about my next fight yet, but I should be fighting in the near future.
411: Speaking of people seeing your fights, it seems as though casual fans may not be as familiar with you as they are with other Welterweights, particularly due to the division being stacked and your bouts not always being televised. You are 5-0 in UFC and 13-0 since 2002. More knowledgable fans are salivating for you to get the credit you deserve. What is your opinion on why the publicity machine does not always mention you in the same light as other fighters in your division, many who have lesser professional, and UFC-specific, win/loss records?
JF: I think I just fell in to a bad spot. The UFC has a crap load of great Welterweights, plus they are trying to build up some of the other weight classes. It's okay though, I mean I'm still fighting for the UFC, I'm getting paid decent and I'm winning. My time will come, if I just keep training the way I train and keep fighting the way I have been fighting and I will be at the top soon enough.
411: The hot topics these days is Zuffa purchasing PRIDE FC and potential "dream fights" coming with the acquisition. Are there any PRIDE fighters in particular you'd like to step into the ring with?
JF: Pride doesn't have a 170lb weight class, so it doesn't affect us in the UFC. All the best guys are here anyway. Our weight class has dream match-ups constantly. I feel right now the 170lb weight class in the UFC is hands down the toughest around. Don't get me wrong...there are a lot of tough weight classes out there, but the best fighters in those weight classes are spread out in a few different organizations.
411: With PRIDE's next event being a tournament for Lightweights (with rumors of a 162 lbs. catch-weight), any thoughts on the possibility of participating? What are your thoughts on MMA tournaments in general?
JF: Well if I cut to 162lbs I would die! There is just no way for me to get any lower than 170. So I won't be able to participate. I like tournaments as long as they are spread out over time. I don't really like fighting multiple times in a night. I have done it before and it sucks. No matter how your first fight goes you always take a little damage. Then you cool down a bit and everything starts to hurt. Then you have to warm back up and go fight again. It's just brutal on the body.
"I never really fought growing up or in high school."
411: How natural was the transition from collegiate wrestling, a sport without striking, to Mixed Martial Arts? You've said you love to punch and kick opponents' heads. Is it fair to assume you had some "amateur" practice at that as well while growing up or working as a bouncer?
JF: The transition wasn't that bad. Once I got used to getting hit in the face the stand up started coming together pretty well. The jiu-jitsu came fairly easy. It was just an extension of wrestling. I just had to learn some new moves. I never really fought growing up or in high school. Had a few fights with old football and wrestling teammates, but no real street fights. I even got into a fight with a freshman at a track meet when I was a senior. It was while I was warming up to throw the discus. I blast-doubled him in the discus circle in front of like 30 people. Luckily my coach didnt see. A coach from another school did though, he thought it was great...he didnt say anything to my coach so I guess he thought the freshman deserved it too.
411: What does an average training session consist of?
JF: Usualy about an hour of stand up and an hour of ground. Then I come back at night and do cardio and roll or mitt and bag work.
411: Matt Serra's victory over Georges St. Pierre seemed to shock the majority of the world. What is your overall opinion on their fight and where do you think the Welterweight division stands in its wake?
JF: It just shows you that in this sport you have to be ready to fight every time no matter who the opponent is. I just dont know...after the last few UFCs I'm just going to stop trying to predict anything.
411: Do you feel you're ready for a shot at the Welterweight Championship or are you hoping to still refine your game before stepping onto that plateau?
JF: Yes, I am ready to fight anyone at 170lbs. My game is on the level of the top Welterweights.
411: What is a common misconception from the public about UFC, Mixed Martial Arts, and/or fighters?
JF: That we are unintelligent. Most top fighters are very smart. Many are college grads. This is a thinking sport, if you are stupid you will have a very hard time being successful.
411: Are there any fighters you currently train with, who are perhaps not "well known", who fans should keep our eyes open for down the road?
JF: Riki Fukuda and Matt Major.
"I just relax and listen and feel the energy of the crowd."
411: You had a VERY successful NCAA wrestling career as a Purdue Boilermaker. What was your favorite opposing Big Ten school to pummel?
JF: Well the Big Ten is stacked. It's the toughest conference out there. Guys who place 6th in the Big Ten wrestling tourney usually place 6th at the national tourney too. So, I didn't get to do that much pummeling. I did win at Pen State my senior year, which was great because their fans were really annoying!
411: Many fans may not know this, but you also have a degree from Purdue and a teacher's license in Indiana. Who wins on Jeopardy...you or Rich Franklin?
JF: I think Rich probably would, I would keep forgetting to phrase my answers as a question.
411: You also bartend in your spare time, a job carrying over from before your UFC days. What's your favorite drink to mix?
JF: I used to bartend, I barback now and mostly just wash dishes. I don't like mixed drinks, I'm to old for that shit. I take my whiskey straight up! Oh Whiskey River please dont run dry...
411: Do you still have the same dog as when you moved to California? Name? Breed?
JF: Yes, he is an English Bulldog named BrickTop, Bricks for short. He will be five in June.
411: What would you be doing now if you weren't a professional fighter? What line of work would you NOT want to be in?
JF: I would probably be a teacher and a coach. I would never want to work in a job where I had to sit in a cubicle.
Quick Hits
411: What music gets you amped for a fight?
JF: I train with a lot of different kinds of music but I don't listen to any before a fight. I just relax and listen and feel the energy of the crowd.
411: What is your favorite thing to eat when you aren't training?
JF: Ice cream, swiss cake rolls, Nutter Butters and sometimes a little fast food.
411: Where would you like to travel to?
JF: I love traveling any where. Its always cool to see new places and meet new people. I like experiencing different cultures and trying to see how thye think and what their philosophies are compared to where I'm from and other places I've been.
411: Hottest Jennifer: Lopez, Love-Hewitt, or Aniston?
JF: Lopez, gotta go with the big ass!
411: What is your favorite video game, whether new or old school?
JF: GTA will always be a favorite. Right now I'm into Gears of War and Oblivion.
411: Thanks for your time Jon. Is there anyone you'd like to mention?
JF: I would like to thank Jigsawinc.com for doing my website, Scoreclinic.com for keeping me healthy, Toe2toe for giving me some sick fight clothing and lastly TNTsales for hooking me up with Mona Vie, a great nutritional drink that utilizes Acai Berries from Brazil.
411: Thank you for the insight and some definite laughs! Have a great summer and continued success in the Octagon. Send our regards to Bricks!
