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“I’m thrilled and already prepared. I’ve been waiting for this fight [with Jon Fitch] for four years and now I got the chance for the revenge. I like revenges. It’s time to payback. I think I was too young when we fought. I wasn’t new in the sport but was in UFC. This American system of losing weight, everything else... Nowadays, I’m a totally different fighter. I learned a lot and I am more experienced and a much better fighter when it comes to standing, wrestling, jiu-jitsu... It couldn’t be a better time. I’m coming off a loss and I want to go back to the winners list. Beating Fitch, I will fight for the belt again. I want to take him on, and go after the belt, no matter who holds it. I think Saint Pierre is going to win but you never know. If it’s Dan Hardy, I'll take the belt from him and get the revenge with St. Pierre next."
-Thiago Alves talks to Tatame.com (translation by MMAMania.com) about his fight with Jon Fitch at UFC 111 and wanting to get another shot at the Welterweight Title.
Penick's Analysis: Alves isn't saying anything different than a lot of fighters do when they get a chance to face someone that has beaten them before. He's a very different fighter than he was the first time he faced Jon Fitch, and it has been so long since that fight that it should be expected this fight could play out very differently. That doesn't necessarily mean the result won't be the same when all is said and done, as Fitch's only loss in eleven trips to the Octagon has been his shot against St. Pierre, but this is a fight between the top two welterweights not named Georges St. Pierre in the world. This is absolutely one of the more anticipated fights at UFC 111 as well, and if either he or Fitch leaves Newark, NJ, with an impressive victory under their belt they could very well get another crack at GSP, or a first crack at Dan Hardy.
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