Jon Fitch will fight WSOF 9's Steve Carl vs. Rousimar Palhares title winner
Jon Fitch (25-6-1) will get a WSOF title shot, and his opponent will be determined at the organization’s next event.
WSOF officials today confirmed the former UFC contender will meet the winner of WSOF 9′s headliner between reigning welterweight champion Steve Carl (21-3) and challenger Rousimar Palhares (15-5). MMAjunkie first reported the Carl vs. Palhares bout this past month.
The event takes place March 29 at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Las Vegas. The event’s main card airs on NBC Sports Network following prelims on MMAjunkie.
Fitch recently was in a 1-3 skid, which included his final fights in the UFC and a WSOF-debut loss to Josh Burkman. However, in October at WSOF 6, he rebounded with a split-decision victory over Marcelo Alfaya.
Despite the recent results, Fitch remains one of the WSOF’s most recognizable names (and likely one of its highest-paid fighters). The former UFC title challenger, who went 21-1 from 2003 to 2010, is currently ranked No. 14 in the latest USA TODAY Sports/MMAjunkie MMA welterweight rankings.
Carl claimed the WSOF title in October with a submission victory over Josh Burkman, which marked his seventh straight win, all of which have come via submission. Palhares, meanwhile, recently signed with WSOF following his release from the UFC, which cut the Brazilian after a second infraction for holding on to a submission hold for too long.
