This is Scott with MMANews.com sitting down with top UFC Welterweight contender Jon Fitch.
MMANews.com: Hello, Jon. How are you? How have the holidays treated you?
Jon Fitch: The holidays were great. I spent Christmas and New Year's in Vietnam. Mostly for vacation, but I was able to help out with some charity work too. I helped hand out some candy and uniforms to some orphans and helped give out some gifts to kids at a school for the blind.
MMANews.com: First I would like to say congratulations on your fight with Diego Sanchez. Did it go as you expected or did he surprise you with anything?
Jon Fitch: I thought I would be able to stand with him more. He was very aggressive, which I expected, but I didn't expect that I would be able to control positions as easily as I did.
MMANews.com: What were your thoughts on the recent rubber-match between Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre?
Jon Fitch: I find it strange that GSP is starting to use wrestling and ground-and-pound so much in his fights now.
MMANews.com: I know Hughes said he isn't sure if he is going to fight again but if he does only have one or two fights left, would you like to fight Matt?
Jon Fitch: I've always strived to fight the best possible opponents available, so as long as he is an elite fighter, I would love to fight him.
MMANews.com: It is rumored that you will be fighting on the UFC 82 card in Ohio, is there any truth to that? If so do you know who you are fighting yet?
Jon Fitch: I signed my bout agreement to fight Akihiro Gono and can't wait to fight such a clever and seasoned fighter.
MMANews.com: Last time I talked to you, you said you wanted to fight Karo Parisyan, and I have heard in interviews since that you still want to fight him. So wanting to fight him how do you feel about his recent comments saying he does not want to fight you? Saying that he wants an easy fight before a title fight.
Jon Fitch: I think he is crazy if he thinks he would ever get another title shot without beating me. He lost to Diego – who I beat, and had a decision against Josh Burkman – who I finished.
Jon Fitch battles Akihiro Gono at UFC 82 in Ohio …
MMANews.com: How close do you feel you are to a title shot?
Jon Fitch: I feel that if I get one more win I deserve a title shot. I would be 8-0 in the UFC and had 15 straight wins without a loss since 2002. I dont know of anyone else with those credentials.
MMANews.com: Is there anything you are working on to improve your game currently?
Jon Fitch: I'm always working on everything. I'm far from perfect at anything.
MMANews.com: By this time next year should we expect to see you fighting for the title or defending your title?
Jon Fitch: This time next year I hope to be defending it.
MMANews.com: Enough with MMA questions, I have a few off topic questions for you. Favorite movie?
Jon Fitch: Too many to name, but: Frailty, Fight Club, Snatch, Apocalypse Now and Caddy Shack, just to name a few.
MMANews.com: Seen any good movies lately?
Jon Fitch: Green Street Hooligans, I think that was the name. It's about soccer hooligans and they fight a bunch and get drunk a lot. Plus there is a great line in the movie, he says something like, “once you get hit a few times you realize you're not made out of glass.” It just made me think about when I started fighting.
MMANews.com: Favorite Book.
Jon Fitch: Zen and The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
MMANews.com: Video Game / Game System.
Jon Fitch: We have XBOX 360 with Gears of War, Elder Scroll: Oblivion, Nintendo Wii with golf and recently picked up the PS3 with Assassins Creed.
MMANews.com: What do you do when you are not training?
Jon Fitch: Video games, reading and sleeping. For a few weeks after a fight I drink whiskey [laughs].
MMANews.com: I would like to thank you Jon for taking the time to do this interview with me. Is there anyone you would like to thank on the way out?
Jon Fitch: No problem. I'd like to thank toe2toe.tv for all of there support and all the sweet gear they give me.
MMANews.com: Good luck with your upcoming fight.
Jon Fitch: Have a good day and take care.
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