The upcoming main event fight for UFC 127 just got a little more interesting as UFC President Dana White on Tuesday announced that the winner between Jon Fitch and B.J. Penn would be considered the No. 1 contender at 170lbs.

While the proclamation for the top spot in the title hunt has been declared before, White was willing to state that he believes the winner of Penn vs. Fitch has earned the shot.

“They’re definitely in the title picture. Either guy that wins that fight, let’s face it, the reality is B.J. Penn has held titles in both weight classes, Fitch has fought for the title and has literally dominated that division for a long time, just couldn’t win the title,” White said on Tuesday.

“Either one of these guys that wins this fight is in the mix. They’re the No. 1 guy.”

Jon Fitch has said numerous times in the past that his goal is to get back to the title shot and eventually wear that gold belt around his waist.

For this fight however, Fitch doesn’t want to talk about title shots, he doesn’t want to hear about being a top contender. Even if the UFC President is saying it, Fitch is focused on B.J. Penn and nothing else.

“I don’t want to waste any time thinking about anything other than fighting B.J. right now,” Fitch stated.

How much difference does one fight make when looking at B.J. Penn as well? The Hawaiian icon seemed at a crossroads a few months ago after back-to-back losses to UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.

Now after knocking out former welterweight champion Matt Hughes in emphatic fashion last November, he could be one fight away from fighting for the 170lb title for a third time.

Penn, much like Fitch, isn’t talking title shots though because none of that happens if he doesn’t win in Australia.

“As of now I’m not even thinking about that,” Penn said about a potential title shot. “I’m not thinking about titles, I’m just happy to fight an opponent of Jon Fitch’s level and Jon Fitch’s stature.”

Penn and Fitch will square off on Feb 27 in Australia, and when the dust settles, it will be interesting to see where the winner fits in the welterweight divisional title picture.

http://mmaweekly.com/dana-white-declare ... lterweight

should be an entertaining fight... looking forward to it.. hopefully the UFC starts making the main events (none chapmionship bouts) 5 rounds also as Dana said they where talking about doing... wish i could go see it.. only 45 mins away

so why dont you go see it jimmy...?
jonny is coming all the way from brisbane to see it...

fitch vs penn should be 5 rounds.

it's gonna be great.

They will never make non title fights 5 rounds, as it's what differentiates a normal fight from a title fight. And the belt

Just more smoke and mirrors from D.W. Fitch was already passed over for a title shot after he had earned it, if he wins this in "boring" fashion (a 3 round nod), he will be passed over once again. Dana is hoping one of his faves, (BJ), wins so he can once again give BJ a titile shot against GSP, make money, and then we can all hear BJ and his momma cry about her boy being "robbed" after he gets DOMINATED for the third time.

So this is a basically if BJ KO's Fitch, he will get GSP AGAIN (even though he already lost TWICE to him) and he only has one fight back at 170.

Also UFC probably knows this ppv won't sell as good as other ppvs in the U.S. with nothing on the line. Mark my words, Fitch wins, he will still get passed over. I wonder though, if BJ wins, when will we see GSP/BJ III since GSP is going up to 185 and supposedly will stay there once he bulks up, it would have to mean GSP fights the winner of this fight first, given he beats Shields.

Get Anderson/Okami over with in the mean time, if Anderson is so good and the p4p best like Dana always says, what is he worried about. Silva could get injured in training, running down the street, or doing his Michael Jackson impression. Fighters weren't meant to be kept on the sidelines waiting for "super fights". If he is as good as Dana thinks he is, keep him active at 185 while GSP puts on the weight/muscle naturally to go up to fight him, he wants 9 months+, so it will be a while.

I saw an interview with him last year where he said they wouldn't do it.

LOL Dana says whatever he needs to at the time to please the fans it seems

As far as I believe it's actually not up to the UFC either, part of the commissioning process. Someone correct me If I'm wrong?

I hope Ftch wins 'cause he deserves a rematch. B.J.'s talented but there's no way he deserves another title shot for now. I think Condit and Kampmann are way ahead of him in the division. You can't just rely on talent alone to be at the top and I think that's what B.J. does.