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BELLATOR MMA SIGNS VETERAN JON FITCH TO EXCLUSIVE MULTI-FIGHT CONTRACT
LOS ANGELES – Bellator MMA is proud to announce the signing of perennial top contender Jon Fitch (30-7-1, 1 NC) to an exclusive multi-fight contract.
Fitch joins Bellator’s stacked welterweight division following a 15-year, 39-bout professional career that has seen him earn 30 victories and a world title. The longtime American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) product has competed against some of the division’s best, including former champs Georges St-Pierre, B.J. Penn and Johny Hendricks, as well as Thiago Alves (x2), Demian Maia and Jake Shields.
“The addition of an elite fighter like Jon Fitch to our roster helps reiterate that we have the best welterweight division in MMA,” Bellator President Scott Coker said. “There are a number of high-profile matchups that we can make and I look forward to seeing what he can do inside the Bellator cage.”
A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., Fitch wrestled at Purdue University prior to finding his way into MMA. Following a string of early career wins, the versatile fighter would eventually earn 21 victories in 22 appearances between 2003-2010 and would go on to challenge St-Pierre for the world title. A mainstay of the division ever since, his most recent run includes four consecutive victories and a welterweight world championship, which he went on to successfully defend against Jake Shields and Brian Foster.
Fitch’s promotional debut will be determined at a later date, but he is expected to return to action this year. Fitch joins a stacked division that includes current welterweight champion Rory MacDonald,Douglas Lima, Paul Daley, Michael Page, Lorenz Larkin, Neiman Gracie and Andrey Koreshkov among others.
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About Bellator:
Bellator is a leading mixed martial arts and kickboxing organization featuring many of the best fighters in the world. Under the direction of veteran fight promoter Scott Coker, Bellator is available to nearly 1 billion people worldwide in over 160 countries. In the United States, Bellator can be seen on Paramount Network (formerly Spike), the combat sports television leader. Bellator is comprised of an executive team that includes top industry professionals in television production, live event orchestration, fighter development/relations, venue procurement, sponsorship creation/development, international licensing, marketing, advertising, publicity and commission relations. Bellator is based in Hollywood, Calif. and owned by entertainment giant Viacom, home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms.
About Paramount Network:
Paramount Network is a premium entertainment destination that pushes the limits of story-telling with bold original scripted and non-scripted series. Inspired by over a century of cinema, Paramount Network is where today’s brightest stars bring the experience of the big screen to every screen with stories that are immersive, inclusive, and deeply personal.
