Dana White: Fitch needs 'a little bit of a reality check'

source: mmafighting.com

"You hear the same thing from everybody about Jon Fitch: If I want to get to sleep and I can't get to sleep at night, I'll put in a Jon Fitch fight. Whatever you think... Jon Fitch is one of the best 170-pounders in the world.

"And yes, he's in the hunt for a title again, but find one person that will tell you they love a Jon Fitch fight, it's the most exciting thing they've ever seen and they just get so excited for it.

"So when you say that you have a fight like Cerrone and Diaz on the card and a guy with a record like (Fitch's) is on and people aren't jumping out of their seats for that fight, I think Jon needs to have a little bit of a, you know... he's got to be a little honest with himself and have a little bit of a reality check."

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1/5/12 11:38 AM by blupitt

He got a reality check alright delivered by johnny Hendricks!

1/5/12 11:19 AM by UberkneedInTheDiverticulitis

My worthless opinion is that MMA is not a team sport. Simply because you can compete in it without being part of a camp. A fighter can float around from trainer to trainer without having a "team". A lone wolf, if you will. I can go fight this weekend just on what I learned from books and videos and the training I did against a manequin. I may suck and not win, but I can still compete. Can't say the say for actual team sports. If you think MMA is a team sport, wouldn't you have to say boxing is too? Can't see anyone calling boxing a team sport, even thouth you rely on sparring partners and "team mates" to prepare you.

1/5/12 10:41 AM by Chronic For The Cure

What about when there's no competition? MMA can be a team sport when the competition is formatted that way but what about when you are not a competitor? It's still a sport, and largely deals with a team atmosphere. I just mean to point out that you shouldn't define it by the competition itself. If your only argument for it not being a team sport is because you compete alone then you neglect all the individuals who participate but do not compete. From that perspective then, everything you do revolves around a team and there essentially is no individual aspect. And don't try arguing it's not really a team at training when you don't compete because as long as it is a group of individuals working towards one common goal (the betterment of each individual), they are a team.

1/4/12 2:20 PM by disbeliever

So TKO finishes are rare in MMA these days?The BJ fight was a perfect example. He is laying in a completely gassed out and limp lightweight's guard for 5 minutes, and is content to pitter patter the entire round, despite said lightweight being unable to do anything.So you are able to watch that and appreciate his "dominant position" and not want him to just sit up and end the fight? Could BJ have subbed Fitch from his back? Has BJ ever subbed anyone from his back in MMA, let alone when completely gassed out and unable to breath?A draw was the right call, imo, but they are both to blame for having to take the draw. Fitch could have most likely stopped the fight if he tried, without taking *too* much risk.

1/4/12 1:53 PM by Magnum TA

Well he has the fight won at that point and advancing position would give his opponent an opportunity to escape. I never said he was not playing it safe but I don't agree that he passes up obvious finishing opportunities to fight longer. He just chooses to keep dominant position and leave it up to his oppoonent to deal with the problem and they usually can't. He is not a great striker, nor is he incredibly explosive on the feet and that is where most fights are finished at the highest levels these days. Guys who are ground specialists are struggling to finish fights and he is no different.

1/4/12 1:50 PM by disbeliever

any and every fight where he lays in someones guard with his face down and throws slap shots at their head to do just enough to stay active. I don't have time now at work to point out where in each fight it happens, but it does.There are points in his fights where he is outclassing people, has them at his mercy more or less, and instead of advancing position to work to a finish, or sitting up and throwing fight ending bombs, he is content to pitter patter

1/4/12 1:47 PM by Magnum TA

Cite some opportunities where it was obvious he could have finished and chose not to. I see a lot of people say that but rarely do I see anyone point an instance where an obvious finish was avaialable in a particular fight. I don't believe Fitch passes up finishing opportunities on purpose so he can fight longer. Usually he is on top of an opponent that has given up on winning and is just trying to survive to the end.

1/4/12 1:46 PM by Sonnen Fanboy

Holy shit Dana said that?

1/4/12 1:40 PM by disbeliever

Disagree. Even when opportunities present themselves, he chooses to not advance

1/4/12 1:19 PM by Magnum TA

I think he is just fighting within his physical abilities. He is a not a speed guy or incredibly explosive in the octagon. He is more of a physical grinder in the mold of a Randy Couture, Gray Maynard type. The best finishers in MMA are usually guys that are explosive athletically on top of their skills. They can capitalize on that split second opening (which is all you get at the highest levels) because of their speed and timing.

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