Jon Fitch: “I Think I’m Better Than Jake (Shields) And Should Be Fighting For The Title”

Jon Fitch rocks Thiago Alves at UFC 117.

Jon Fitch has never been a fighter to hold back on saying exactly what he’s feeling.

After watching his teammate Josh Koscheck fall to Georges St-Pierre over the weekend, he then had to hear the news that Jake Shields would indeed be getting the next crack at the UFC welterweight title in 2011. While Fitch has his own fight coming up in Australia in February, he still believes the title shot should be his.

Speaking in Australia on Monday, Fitch let it be known that he believes he’s a superior fighter to Shields, but knows he has a tough test ahead of him at UFC 127.

“I think I’m better than Jake (Shields), I think I should be fighting for the title, but I’ve been given a huge opportunity here to fight B.J. Penn and that’s a big fight, belt or no belt,” Fitch stated.

The business of why Shields is getting a title shot instead of him is something Fitch understands, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be gunning for his own opportunity in the future.

“We’re in a sport of selling fights right now, and the sport’s growing, we’re trying to get international, trying to get into every country, every household, and part of that is ticket sales is the idea that Jake Shields is coming over from Strikeforce with two belts,” Fitch said. “I understand that, it’s a business decision.”

Fitch has fought once for the UFC welterweight title, losing a unanimous decision to Georges St-Pierre in 2008. Since that time, the American Kickboxing Academy fighter has won his last five fights in a row.

Shields’ signing with the UFC and a subsequent win over Martin Kampmann earned him the next title shot against St-Pierre. Shields is currently riding a 15 fight win streak and has been undefeated since 2004.

Regardless of Shields getting the next shot, Fitch is convinced if he puts on a strong performance in Australia, he’ll get another crack at the championship.
“I feel if I can put in a fantastic performance with B.J. there’s no denying a title shot,” said Fitch.

Fitch will battle B.J. Penn in the main event of UFC 127 in Australia on Feb 27 at the Acer Arena.