UFC 94: Jon Fitch vs Akihiro Gono (Exclusive)
by Jesse Holland on Nov 18, 2008 8:44 PM EST
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Top welterweight contender Jon Fitch (17-3) and Akihiro Gono (29-13-7) have been offered bout agreements to face off once and for all at UFC 94: "St. Pierre vs Penn 2" on January 31 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, MMAmania.com (www.mmamania.com) has learned.
This fight was originally scheduled for UFC 82 "Pride of a Champion" back in March at the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, until a hand injury suffered by Gono forced Chris Wilson to step in and take his place.
Fitch would go on to defeat Wilson, his eighth straight victory in the UFC, before losing a violent five round decision to welterweight deity Georges "Rush" St. Pierre in their championship match from UFC 87 "Seek and Destroy" on August 9.
Fitch will be facing a very experienced competitor in Gono. A longtime veteran of Japanese MMA including PRIDE, Pancrase and Shooto brings both a well-rounded style and a colorful personality.
Gono is an even 1-1 so far in his UFC career. After submitting Tamdan McCrory via armbar at UFC 78 he came up on the losing end of a split-decision against the venerable Dan Hardy at UFC 89.
UFC 94 is the blockbuster Super Bowl weekend pay-per-view (PPV) event for the promotion, which features the welterweight superfight between former 170-pound champion and current lightweight kingpin BJ Penn versus reigning welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre.
Unbeaten light heavyweight contenders Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva are also booked to finally hook 'em up to determine the top division contender to start the 2009 fight season.
To check out the latest UFC 94 fight card and rumors click here.
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fitch by lying on top of him for 3 rounds
by ufcaddict on Nov 19, 2008 10:02 AM EST up reply actions
Fitch will GNP Gono into oblivion!
by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on Nov 19, 2008 8:35 PM EST up reply actions
u r crazy if you think Fitch is going to be able to finish Gono! Only way Fitch can win this fight is by decision. Back in pride, Gono faced much tougher and heavier opponents than JOn Fitch.
Dont get me wrong, I think Fitch will win, but it should be a really interesting fight. Gono is a very crafty and tough SOB!!!! Very Under rated!~
by john on Nov 19, 2008 9:17 AM EST up reply actions
Why isnt Fitch fighting Dan Hardy,,,, Dan schooled Gono!
by Adam on Nov 19, 2008 11:25 AM EST up reply actions
good point. nothing against hardy, but if gono cant beat him, i cant see him beating fitch.
by b.w. on Nov 19, 2008 11:41 AM EST up reply actions
Fitch by decision….Gono is not on Fitch’s level. I would predict a submission finish but with Fitch just coming off of the St. Pierre loss, I think he guts out a decision.
by K Campbell on Nov 18, 2008 8:54 PM EST reply actions
I agree that Fitch will probably decision. Fitch looks so much bigger than Gono. I think he will out muscle him. What makes me happy is that this will be in the main card and I can finally see Gono’s entrance!!!! Always a Gono fan, win or lose.
by Chris W on Nov 18, 2008 9:21 PM EST up reply actions
I would take Gono. I think this will be his breakout fight in the UFC. Fitch’s striking is not that great and Gono has the better jab IMO. BJJ wise, gono has a very different style than anything jon has seen. 94 is gonna be good.
by NameNotRequired on Nov 18, 2008 9:25 PM EST up reply actions
I guess the UFC really just wants to get rid of Gono lol. He’s one of my favorite fighters, and as much as I like him, I don’t know if he can be Fitch. As skilled as Gono is, Fitch is a monsterous welterweight. I’m gonna be pullin for Gono though, hand over my eyes peeking through the fingers. WAR GONO!
by rockwell on Nov 18, 2008 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
I guess the UFC really just wants to get rid of Gono lol. He’s one of my favorite fighters, and as much as I like him, I don’t know if he can be Fitch. As skilled as Gono is, Fitch is a monsterous welterweight. I’m gonna be pullin for Gono though, hand over my eyes peeking through the fingers. WAR GONO!
by rockwell on Nov 18, 2008 10:23 PM EST up reply actions
i would think theyd give fitch an up and comer, not someone just coming off a loss
by brendan on Nov 18, 2008 9:07 PM EST reply actions
Good Fight, should be interesting. Have Fitch taking it by GnP
by SoCalStunNa on Nov 18, 2008 9:09 PM EST reply actions
U know he’s only been finished 3 times in the past 7 years. And it was by fighters leagues and leagues above fitch at a higher weight class.
by NameNotRequired on Nov 19, 2008 12:56 AM EST up reply actions
Fitch all the way, although Gono is a formidable opponent, without a doubt.
by WebGarden on Nov 18, 2008 9:39 PM EST reply actions
isn’t gono coming off a loss? …this is an odd matchup for a guy ranked #2 or #3 in the world.
by Toad on Nov 18, 2008 9:47 PM EST reply actions
yeah
split decision to dan hardy
but to think about it
there isnt really anyone to match fitch up with
i wanted to see him face karo
that would of been a sick fight
by ian on Nov 18, 2008 10:58 PM EST up reply actions
alves would be a good fight … not now but sometime in the future i would like to see alves destroy him
he has got so much better since that loss to fitch
by ufcaddict on Nov 19, 2008 10:05 AM EST up reply actions
I don’t think I’d be alone in appreciating an article exploring Gono’s unholy obsession with afro wigs. Not Pulitzer material, but really, WTF?
by hyde on Nov 18, 2008 9:54 PM EST reply actions
its to mimic DJ Ozama, a famous japanese DJ/celebrity
by brendan on Nov 19, 2008 8:33 PM EST up reply actions
why would this be on the undercard? fitch is probable the number two contender in the division right now a win over gono will put him in a spot to face a top guy or to face bj or thiago when he takes the title from gsp
by matt on Nov 18, 2008 10:40 PM EST up reply actions
In all actuallity it will be on the under card considering Gsp and BJ will be the main event….. But it definitely won’t be a prelim.
by Psyqo78®™ on Nov 18, 2008 11:12 PM EST up reply actions
your right but when i read his comment i took it as he thought the fight should be a prelim fight
by matt on Nov 19, 2008 12:36 PM EST up reply actions
if you honest;y think thiago beats gsp in a lifetime you are a MORON, he’s lost what 2 fights 1 hughes and 1 serra? noone else was really even remotely close gsp will beat bj bad,make thiago cry like a baby, then beat fitch worse then before
gsp evolves every fight and gets better in more then 1 area he wont ever lose again unless someone gets REALLLLYYYYYY lucky
by randy murders on Nov 19, 2008 3:11 AM EST up reply actions
from what i have seen thiago is pretty much impossible to takedown, and if gsp cant get this fight to the ground he is not going to be able to outstrike thiago, matt serra outstruck gsp and koed him, thiago has crazy power and technique and speed and gsp has a suspect chin. And to gsp will never lose again is the stupidest thing i have ever heard
by matt on Nov 19, 2008 12:35 PM EST up reply actions
Awesome fight Card! This is a good rebound for John Fitch hopefully he wins.
by St. Amour on Nov 18, 2008 10:30 PM EST reply actions
im shocked by the number of people saying gono is going to win this fight, he will get put on his back and dominated until he gets submitted or he will lose via unamious decision i dont think he is anywhere near jon fitch in terms of skill
by matt on Nov 18, 2008 10:41 PM EST reply actions
Yeah. these people are stupid…
by Syd[a.k.a. "The Negation"] on Nov 19, 2008 10:00 PM EST up reply actions
they should sign jake shields and make him face fitch
by ian on Nov 18, 2008 10:59 PM EST reply actions
This event is shaping up to be just as good as the new years card. Freakin awesome month for MMA this is gonna be.
by The Anomaly on Nov 18, 2008 11:29 PM EST reply actions
why Gono? Gono is coming off a loss to hardy. If anything, they should have given him Chonan or Karo.
by sbud on Nov 19, 2008 12:45 AM EST reply actions
Oh well, it was fun having Gono in the UFC. See you in Dream!
Seriously though, Fitch can outwrestle Gono to a decision, he just needs to avoid the submission attempts. Here’s hoping Gono gets the upset.
by Space on Nov 19, 2008 1:18 AM EST reply actions
Oh shit, I forgot this was the BJ-GSP card lmao. Never mind. Great fight nonetheless.
by Pat on Nov 19, 2008 10:15 AM EST up reply actions
wow man The main event itself could sell the tickets but add in Machida vs Silva, Fitch,Gono, Bonnar, Karo, Thavares, Gamburyan damn lots of good fighters lots of great fights man , cant wait for the main event….
by hector on Nov 19, 2008 2:59 PM EST reply actions
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