The Jon Fitch UFC Release: 5 Fast Facts You Need To Know

Jon Fitch

5 fast facts you need to know about Jon Fitch being cut by the UFC

1. Jon Fitch was one of sixteen fighters released by the UFC today. Other notable fighters cut include Vladimir Matyushenko, Mike Russow, and Jacob Volkmann. It was also reported that the promotion was looking to cut around 100 total fighters.

2. Fitch, who is now 34, began his career in July of 2002 in a losing effort against Mike Pyle. He now has a career record of 25 wins, 5 losses, 1 draw, and 1 no contest. In 2005, he transitioned to the UFC where he would defeat Brock Larson in a decision victory. In all, he fought in a total of 18 UFC fights.

3. In his UFC career, Fitch only lost three times , while also recording one draw. His first loss would also prove to be his most notable fight, when after an 8 fight win streak he challenged welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at UFC 87 in 2008, in a bout that saw him beaten quite decisively. Then at UFC 127, Fitch fought B.J. Penn in a majority draw that saw the two compete at a feverish pace. His next loss came against Johny Hendricks and his booming left hand at UFC 141 in 2011. It would mark the first time he was finished since 2002.  His most recent loss saw him out grappled by BJJ specialist Demian Maia at UFC 156, in a manner that many have described as a style Fitch himself used to defeat opponents.

4. From 2005 to 2010, Jon Fitch was the best welterweights in the world not named Georges St. Pierre. In that time he compiled a record of 14-1, defeating everyone the promotion threw at him.

5. As brilliant as his career has been, the one critique of Fitch's career has been his inability to finish fights. Of his 24 wins, 14 have come by decision, with 10 coming in the UFC, second to only GSP. He also ranks 5th in total amount of time spent in the octagon with 3 hours, 58 minutes and 58 seconds.