UFC
Jon Fitch officially cleared to return, still may fight at UFC 139 in November
Aug 16, 2011 - 5:00:12 PM Jon Fitch officially cleared to return, still may fight at UFC 139 in November

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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

UFC welterweight Jon Fitch has been cleared to return to action, and according to a report from MMAJunkie.com, he may get his wish of competing on the UFC 139 card in San Jose, Calif.

"I'm back!" Fitch wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. "Dr. Kavitne gave me the OK to fight."

Fitch had undergone shoulder surgery after pulling out of a proposed UFC 132 rematch with B.J. Penn, and has been recovering since then. He hoped to return on the UFC 139 card, and now MMAJunkie reports that he may meet Johny Hendricks on the event, expected for the HP Pavilion in San Jose on November 19.

Fitch is 13-1-1 in 15 fights in the UFC, with his sole loss coming to Georges St. Pierre in their title fight back in 2008 and his draw coming against B.J. Penn this February.

Link to Original Source Article

Penick's Analysis: Hendricks doesn't fit the "champions or former champions" for the opponents Fitch wanted to face off against, but he may not be given much of a choice if the UFC isn't going to offer him a fight like that. After being out for awhile and returning from a serious injury, he needs to simply get back into the cage, and Hendricks will represent a good, solid test for him and how well the shoulder has healed. The 11-1 Hendricks has quietly racked up a 6-1 record in the UFC, with the only loss coming to Rick Story last December. The two-time NCAA D-1 wrestling champion also has the credentials to hang with Fitch in what is his dominant attribute, making this a tougher fight than many may see it as.

[Jon Fitch art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]