Jon Fitch cleared to return to training in Sept., targeting Nov. return at UFC 138 in San Jose

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Jon Fitch, the perennial #2 welterweight in the world, has been recovering from shoulder surgery in hopes of making a return this fall, and now he's gotten clearance from his doctors to do just that.

Fitch took to Twitter after a doctors appointment in Los Angeles on Tuesday to reveal his target return event.

"Great news. I will be cleared to start training camp Sept 1," he wrote. "I'll be more than ready for UFC in San Jose."

The event he's referring to is likely to be UFC 138 on November 19, which is expected to be headlined by a Heavyweight Championship fight between Cain Velasquez and Junior Dos Santos.

The fight Fitch is hoping to get is his rematch with B.J. Penn. The two fought to a draw at UFC 127 in February, and were scheduled to face off at next month's UFC 132 event in Las Vegas before injuries pulled them each out of the event.

However, if Penn is able to return sooner he may choose to do so instead of waiting until November. But with Fitch wanting only a fight with Penn or UFC Welterweight Champion Georges St. Pierre, that could leave Fitch without a desired opponent and the possibility of sitting out or taking a fight he's not entirely thrilled about.

Penick's Analysis: If Penn fights earlier it's likely to be against Jake Shields, but if he's willing to hold out a couple of extra months, the rematch with Fitch would still be fantastic. The first fight was really enjoyable, despite the ultimately disappointing draw, and a rematch would be fantastic to see as well. I'll hold out hope for that one, even though Penn-Shields does intrigue me, because it will allow the winner to establish themselves as possibly deserving a rematch against St. Pierre if and when the Champ gets past Nick Diaz in October.

[Jon Fitch art by Cory Gould (c) MMATorch.com]

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