Jon Fitch gets next welterweight title shot, will fight Steve Carl vs Rousimar Palhares winner at WSOF 11

Despite a submission loss and a close decision win in two fights under the World Series of Fighting (WSOF) umbrella, former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Welterweight standout, Jon Fitch, has been guaranteed a 170-pound title shot.

Fitch is poised to challenge the winner of Steve Carl vs. Rousimar Palhares -- who will headline WSOF 9 this weekend (Sat., March 29, 2014) at "The Joint" from Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada -- at WSOF 11, which is tentatively scheduled to take place on July 5, 2014, at a soon-to-be-announced location.

WSOF Executive Vice President (and Matchmaker), Ali Abdel-Aziz, shared the news with MMA Fighting earlier this afternoon.

That is, of course, if Palhares' drug test comes back clean and plans go accordingly. And, should "Toquinho" topple Carl and take his belt, that Fitch has changed his mind about fighting the enigmatic Brazilian limb crusher.

Fitch made his WSOF debut against Josh Burkman at WSOF 3 back in June 2013, losing via guillotine choke in just 41 seconds back. He rebounded to defeat Marcelo Alfaya three months later at WSOF 6 via unanimous decision in a close fight.

The American Kickboxing Academy standout was cut by Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) after his unanimous decision loss to Demian Maia at UFC 156 last year. The Indiana-born fighter racked up an impressive UFC record of 14-3-1, but he was deemed too expensive to keep.

It's interesting to note Burkman lost to Carl on that very same fight card. And now, Fitch, has a chance to redeem himself by beating whomever is champion this upcoming summer. Perhaps WSOF is gunning for a "Fitch vs. Burkman 3" event in the future if all the chips fall into place in the next few months.

Nonetheless, tune in this Saturday to find out who Fitch will fight this summer.