Originally Posted by MMAMania

Fitch Signs Extension & Confirms Thiago Fight

MMAmania.com can report that Jon Fitch today signed a five-fight contract extension with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), ensuring that the former number one welterweight contender will continue to compete inside the Octagon well into 2010.

In addition, Fitch finalized the final paperwork for his next appearance against undefeated submission specialist Paulo Thiago at UFC 100 from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 11.

Fitch scored a dominating unanimous decision win over Akihiro Gono in his most recent outing at UFC 94: “St. Pierre vs. Penn 2″ on Jan. 31, overcoming the sight of the charismatic Japanese standout and his corner dressed in drag.

The Purdue University wrestler now boasts nine victories for the promotion in 10 attempts. He also currently shares the record for most consecutive UFC wins (eight) along with mixed martial arts legend and UFC Hall of Famer, Royce Gracie, as well as 185-pound wrecking machine, Anderson Silva.

Talk about impressive company.

The lone blemish on Fitch’s UFC record is to welterweight deity Georges “Rush” St. Pierre in their championship match from UFC 87 “Seek and Destroy” on August 9. Fitch demonstrated a ton of heart in the 170-pound contest, refusing to relent from a punishing five-round attack from the Canadian.

Fitch is still widely considered the number two-ranked welterweight fighter on the planet. He’ll need to string together another impressive win streak to get another crack at the division title, which can likely happen under the current five-fight deal.

His journey back to the top will continue with Thiago on the historic pay-per-view (PPV) card. For Fitch it will provide him with an opportunity to exact revenge — the Brazilian most recently stunned his good friend and American Kickboxing Academy training partner, Josh Koscheck, with a fight-ending first round upper cut at UFC 95: “Sanchez vs. Stevenson” just last month.