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[lilp86]

A question for the masses: If you could peek into the mind of someone you have observed accomplish feats in the Octagon with ease, would
you?

Pushing the ‘peeping tom’ stigma aside, most true mixed martial arts fans would jump at the opportunity to play voyeur to the mental machinery of today’s top MMA athletes, much like the highly touted movie, ‘Being John Malkovich,’ where for the price of $200 people entered a portal and were given 15 minutes of admission into the mind of a deep-thinking actor whose life experiences greatly eclipsed their own in substance and excitement.

Malkovich, not known for being a tremendous personality in his personal life, contrasts his actions off the screen with commanding performances on it. If the movie centered on a mixed martial artist, Jon Fitch would undoubtedly be the man-in-the-middle; convenience of namesake alone, Fitch is the quiet volcano that smolders only when the Octagon door is opened and then shut. All inside the portal please.

“I’m a simple guy,” said the welterweight contender. “I believe in honesty; as human beings we have an obligation to find truth in life. It’s why I am a fighter - the fight game allows us to find truth.”

Truth seeking has its benefits, as Fitch has not lost a fight since 2002, the beginning of his mixed martial arts career, and is notably riding a 14 fight win streak. Looking at Fitch, one rarely sees flaws or lack of confidence, just flow. But amazingly, his talent took time to develop, as Fitch was a walk-on wrestler at Purdue University and did not receive any scholarship offerings until the halfway mark of his sophomore year. It was a partial scholarship, food and housing, not the accoutrements of a future MMA standout. By his senior year, the physical education major became a co-captain and letterman of the wrestling team, much to his surprise.

“The summer before my senior year I was just starting to become a better wrestler. Senior year I was co-captain of my team; it was important to me because it showed even though I wasn’t the best wrestler, they respected me as a leader.”

It was during this time that Jon Fitch began dabbling in other fighting disciplines and saw an MMA career as a real possibility. Starting by working out with the Purdue University Judo club, Fitch invented his own training regime, relying on his sheer curiosity and inventiveness to create his program.

“I started fight training at the end of junior year through my senior year. I wasn’t training in a real gym (at this time). I just wrapped my hands and hit the heavy bag. I knew that no matter how high you get in wrestling you will never make a lot of money. Even if I was to make it to the Olympics, MMA paid more. After my last loss to (Wilson) Gouveia, I moved to get more training.”

Fitch’s last final of graduate school was held on a Thursday and on that next Friday he packed his bags and left the Midwest. The Fort Wayne, Indiana native, who jokingly refers to his view of his hometown’s lack of excitement as “Fort Fun”, headed to sunny California in search of true training and an escape from career stagnation and the cold weather which he loathed. After his manager in Fresno, California made connections for him to fight in more promotions, he happened upon a meeting with Sean Sherk at a fight he competed in. From there, other connections were made and he landed at the American Kickboxing Academy in San Jose, where he still trains to this day.

Beginning at light heavyweight, Fitch did not experience much success. Racking up only one win, two losses and one no contest, the field wasn’t exactly where he found flow. Moving down slightly to middleweight he won, but he knew that welterweight is where he felt naturally comfortable and challenged. The problem was that his reputation had gotten out.

“I used to be a weightlifting freak. At one point I walked around at 267 pounds with a little beer belly, but I could go down. No one would fight me at 170 in California, so I had to fight at 185. When I fought Shonie (Carter) it was at 185 but at 170 I feel the most challenged; especially in the UFC. That’s were the best ranked guys are.In his first three professional MMA fights, Jon Fitch had amassed two losses, to Mike Pyle and Wilson Gouveia, and one win via a guillotine choke over Dan Hart. That was in 2002. For the next three years he chalked up an eight fight win streak just as impressive before the UFC took notice. Then in late 2005, the big show came calling, matching Fitch with an unbeaten Brock Larson, who also was making his Octagon debut. After a unanimous decision, Fitch took home the win on that UFC Fight Night and began a seven fight win streak that leaves him undefeated in the Octagon.

“I’m stubborn,” he said. “I’m a very stubborn person. I won’t stop training until I get what I want.”

After his last six victories over tough UFC competitors, of which only two were decisions, Fitch faces a fighter making his Octagon debut. Aside from being in the same position Jon Fitch was three years ago, Chris Wilson of the Oregon-based Team Quest is on a win streak of his own. With Wilson’s last loss coming in 2006, racking up four victories since then, and team association with superstars like Dan Henderson, it’s enough to turn the tide of public opinion.

“I think he (Chris Wilson) will bring qualities that I haven’t seen from other fighters,” said Fitch. “I know he has a quick punch. I don’t want to get in the same groove of fighting the same fighters. Different styles make me prepared for more styles when I fight.”

As fight week approaches, one can only think about Fitch’s silent but deadly maneuvering and penchant not to talk trash. As the Fitch mental tour ends, one last tidbit on mental preparedness:

“(Fight Week) I run through as many scenarios as I can. What’s my opponent capable of? What have I done? What can I improve on? I’m not one for talking smack; I let my accomplishments in the cage speak for themselves.”

15 minutes up, please exit the portal. And you didn’t even have to pay $200. ”

UFC® : Ultimate Fighting Championship®

[smoogy]

That was the most labored metaphor ever put to paper

[Unreal]

wow... whoever wrote that must like Being John Malkovich even more than I do


still, if I could do that portal thing into the brain I would probably want to be Fedor... or Randy, but definitely not Fitch

[LefthookStcrook]

Originally Posted by unrealism

wow... whoever wrote that must like Being John Malkovich even more than I do


still, if I could do that portal thing into the brain I would probably want to be Fedor... or Randy, but definitely not Fitch

I'd go with Anderson Silva


Yea the whole Malkovich reference was pretty lame, not bad article if you cut it all out lol. Fitch should deffinatly be getting a tougher fight, this is probably the most lop-sided card in a long time.

Fitch vs loser of Serra/GSP?? whats everyone think of that, deffinatly i fight i'd wanna see

[lilp86]

Originally Posted by TUF5

I'd go with Anderson Silva


Yea the whole Malkovich reference was pretty lame, not bad article if you cut it all out lol. Fitch should deffinatly be getting a tougher fight, this is probably the most lop-sided card in a long time.

Fitch vs loser of Serra/GSP?? whats everyone think of that, deffinatly i fight i'd wanna see

I think tha would be logical but if Serra loses I dont see him fightin anyone but Hughes next. I think Fitch vs the winner of Karo/Alves is more likely