Jon Fitch vs. Mike Pierce official for "UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez" in December

MMAjunkie.com Staff, MMAjunkie.com Nov 3, 3:37 pm EST

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The whirlwind period of ever-changing fight bookings for Jon Fitch (19-3 MMA, 10-1 UFC) is finally over, and the elite-level welterweight will now face Mike Pierce (10-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) at UFC 107.

First reported this past Saturday, the Fitch vs. Pierce bout was today officially announced by the UFC.

Featuring a lightweight title fight between current champ B.J. Penn and challenger Diego Sanchez, "UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez" is scheduled for Dec. 12 in Memphis, Tenn. The main card airs live on pay per view.

Fitch was originally expected to face Ricardo Almeida (11-3 MMA, 4-3 UFC) at UFC 106 in November. When Almeida was forced to withdraw due to injury, Fitch was bumped to the UFC 107 card in favor of a match with fellow top contender Thiago Alves (16-6 MMA, 9-3 UFC).

Unfortunately, that bout was also quickly scrapped when Alves was also forced to withdraw after an injury.

Meanwhile, Pierce was set to face Fitch's American Kickboxing Academy teammate, Josh Koscheck (13-4 MMA, 11-4 UFC), at the as-yet-unannounced UFC Fight Night 20 event in January. Koscheck was then pulled from the bout in order to fill a co-feature slot against Anthony Johnson at UFC 106.

Pierce wastes no time in meeting a top-level opponent in just his second UFC contest. In his first trip to the octagon, Pierce upset Brock Larson at UFC Fight Night 19 in September. The win was Pierce's sixth-straight victory.

The full 11-fight card for "UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez" now includes:

MAIN CARD

  • Champ B.J. Penn vs. Diego Sanchez (for lightweight title)
  • Cheick Kongo vs. Frank Mir
  • Jon Fitch vs. Mike Pierce
  • Kenny Florian vs. Clay Guida
  • Paul Buentello vs. Todd Duffee
PRELIMINARY CARD (un-aired)
  • Alan Belcher vs. Wilson Gouveia
  • Shane Nelson vs. Matt Wiman
  • Ricardo Funch vs. Johny Hendricks
  • Lucio Linhares vs. Rousimar Palhares
  • Edgar Garcia vs. DaMarques Johnson
  • Kevin Burns vs. T.J. Grant
For the latest on "UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez," stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com).

(Pictured: Jon Fitch)

Check out more UFC News at MMAjunkie.com. This story originally appeared on MMAjunkie.com and is syndicated on Yahoo! Sports as part of a content-partnership deal between the two sites.

Updated Nov 3, 3:37 pm EST
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24 Comments

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  1. Gabriel G
    24. Posted by Gabriel G Fri Nov 6 1:22pm EST

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    Black Steve-O...did u watch the same fight that I saw...Deigo beat Clay straight up, he wasn't winded...They both were ready to go another round or two...Stop sleeping on the Nightmare...He is a beast! He lost to Fitch and Kos because he was partying too much and falling off course of his normal routine...Penn is a beast no doubt, and I have much respect for him, but Deigo will hold the Title, No doubt
  2. Gabriel G
    23. Posted by Gabriel G Fri Nov 6 1:18pm EST

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    Please....Sanchez will win the Title.....Sanchez is the greatest fighter in the world...Much respect to Penn, but The Nightmare is coming for his lonnnnnnnnng awaited belt....Much Love(no gay sh@t) to Deigo Sanchez...Since you started out on Ultimate Fighter, I've been following your career, I have much respect for you and your fam....Good Luck Deigo!! You Da Man!!! G.O.A.T.
  3. Black Steve-O
    22. Posted by Black Steve-O Fri Nov 6 11:51am EST

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    Upon further review, saying Penn would finish Sanchez in the 2nd round is a little overzealous. I do think Penn will finish Sanchez but it will probably be the 4th or 5th round. For some reason, i don't see this going to a decision.
  4. alientourist
    21. Posted by alientourist Thu Nov 5 7:34pm EST

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    Great card. I think guida will have a hard time finding his range with florian. If florian fights like he did against huerta i think it will be his decision. I think Mir will keep congo on his back or against the cage where congo is out of his comfort zone i think mir wins that fight. When Bj uses his jab hes pretty tough to beat. Diegos stand up is improved but if hes on his back BJ will finish him. I think sanchez should take a page from GSP's fight plan and use his size to wear BJ down. I dont think Sanchez has any weapons to stop BJ but he could win by decision. He needs to lay on him for 5 rounds if he can get BJ down.
  5. travis
    20. Posted by travis Thu Nov 5 5:29pm EST

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    You can hardly compare Ken-flo's fights with the Nightmare's. If your doubting that just wait til Guida kills Kenny!! lol All of you saying the Nightmare won't make out of the 2nd round please, he's never been finished in a fight. He has much better conditioning and cardio then Penn. I'm not sure if Penn can submit Sanchez either. Diego is a beast on the ground, his loss to Kos was because he fought with a bad staff infection and was hospitalized the next day. Yet he still went to decision with him! regardless, it's going to be the fight of the year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
  6. Black Steve-O
    19. Posted by Black Steve-O Thu Nov 5 2:53pm EST

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    C'mon, does anybody really think Sanchez will make it out of the 2nd round? Penn will dominate and retain, just like he always does at LW. Sanchez doesn't have anything in his bag that Penn hasn't seen a dozen times. Sanchez has great conditioning but Guida gave him a glimpse of a true cardio monster. Take that fight to five rounds and Guida leaves the Nutmare in a pile of sweat and blood. Sanchez was empty at the end of three (just like everybody that fights that guy). There are very few fighters that I root against but the "Nutmare stare" makes me want to vomit every time.

    As for dog-piling Lesnar, who wants to watch a fighter at 30-50% (Big Nog & Mir anyone?). Yeah, that would be fun. Dude's got Mono. Roger Federer wasn't the same player for six months because of Mono.
  7. Jordan
    18. Posted by Jordan Thu Nov 5 2:57am EST

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    If you guys haven't already figured it out yet, but sorry to burst your bubbles. Duffee won't be fighting at 107.
  8. Kevin
    17. Posted by Kevin Thu Nov 5 2:46am EST

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    GREAT addition to an already strong fight card. You know it's a solid card when a preliminary fight features guys (Gouveia v. Belcher) who are usually low level PPV guys. I am driving down to this show and I couldn't be happier with this card. Unless Rashad v. Rampage hadn't gone up in smoke.
  9. John
    16. Posted by John Wed Nov 4 10:08pm EST

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    I used to not like Sanchez that much because he always came out looking like a jacked up Karate Kid with all his staring out to Buddah, Allah, Jesus Christ , or the ghost of Bruce Lee whoever and looking stupid. But in my mind he earned my respect when he fought Clay Guida and probably put on the best fight I ever saw! Now don't get me wrong BJ Penn is probably one of the most knowledgeable and toughest fighters out there as long as he's physically conditioned and ready for the fight but in my opinion Sanchez is going to beat him!
  10. davisbrosfight
    15. Posted by davisbrosfight Wed Nov 4 6:00pm EST

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    someone said Duffee was injured and was pulling out of the fight. I hope not Id like to see what he is made of against the head hunter
  11. <i>javbal1633</i>
    14. Posted by javbal1633 Wed Nov 4 5:27pm EST

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    This card is going to be a GREAT night of fighting. All of the main draws are going to be entertaining. Sanchez Penn fight is a fight that Ive been waiting to see, Mir vs. Kongo should be REAL interesting, Clay Guida ia always entertaining and now hes up against Flo, and after Duffee won his last fight in 7 secs or whatever it was I wanna see what he does now! Finch always brings it too!
  12. misanthropope
    13. Posted by misanthropope Wed Nov 4 4:46pm EST

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    big fan of sanchez, but he's indisputably the underdog here. his two biggest assets are his pure conditioning, and his quick-thinking transition based ground game.

    Penn has had the importance of conditioning beaten into him- nothing like losing to inferior fighters to make you admit your mistakes. believable that sanchez will be a bit stronger, but hard to accept that he is going to run Penn's meter to "empty".

    for Sanchez, for all that creativity and quick thinking in the ground game, just goes out the window against such a dominant grappling technician. man would i love to be wrong on this point, but i just don't see it.

    If the nightmare shows up in the best shape of his life, it could be as good a match as MMA has ever shown. but if he hasnt made good and sure all his weaknesses are patched up, or he doesn't have some kind of trick up his sleeve, it's going to just be "excellent fighter gets stomped by GREAT fighter"
  13. Larry P
    12. Posted by Larry P Wed Nov 4 4:25pm EST

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    What are you folks drinking? Ken-flo has looked MUCH better the last 18 months to 2 years than Diego has...what happened to KIenny? Same thing that is going to happen to Sanchez. Penn can't be stopped at lightweight, he dominates that division like "The spider" dominates his...he has to up a wieghtclass to get competition. Stoppage in the 3rd round due to a cut....Penn retains title.
  14. Sc
    11. Posted by Sc Wed Nov 4 2:22pm EST

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    go diego!
  15. He-man
    10. Posted by He-man Wed Nov 4 12:46pm EST

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    no amount of YES YES YES can save Diego in this one. He will come out like gangbusters and try to bullrush BJ, and possibly suffer the same fate as Caol Uno. If this thing goes past 3 rounds, BJ will frustrate the hell outta Diego and ultimately choke his ass out.
  16. C
    9. Posted by C Wed Nov 4 12:02pm EST

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    Definitely looks like a nice card...
  17. Tim
    8. Posted by Tim Wed Nov 4 10:40am EST

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    This is a good card.. its about time the UFC puts together a good one. All these injuries really play a part in that. then you have pu$$ys like Lesnar who pull out because hes sick. Thats about the lamest excuse i have ever heard. I hope Sanchez breaks Penns face.
  18. Jose S
    7. Posted by Jose S Wed Nov 4 4:28am EST

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    My prediction: BJ Penn jumps out of the water and the NIGHTMARE knocks him out back into the water. Go Diego!!!
  19. Robert C
    6. Posted by Robert C Wed Nov 4 3:52am EST

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    This is shaping up to be the best card in a long while. Looking forward to this one.

    Fight of the night honors to Kenny and Clay....just has to be.

    KO of the night goes to Duffy.

    Submission of the night goes to B.J. Penn.

    We shall see.
  20. abraham, abraham h
    5. Posted by abraham, abraham h Wed Nov 4 12:11am EST

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    i can't wait for the main event i like both fighters but i am leaning towards "the nightmare".can't wait to see mir bounce back from that lesnar loss,overall should be a pretty good card.also can't wait till UFC 109 Anderson Silva versus Belfort
  21. <i>becksterocks</i>
    4. Posted by becksterocks Tue Nov 3 9:26pm EST

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    should be a great event. cant wait to see johnny hendricks and todd duffee try and follow up their quick knockouts at 102. those guys have star potential.

    guida florian should be a war too.
  22. <i>gohubb</i>
    3. Posted by gohubb Tue Nov 3 8:01pm EST

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    Not a lot of top names? I see a few title contenders
    A current champ and a former champ
  23. sneakyfoot
    2. Posted by sneakyfoot Tue Nov 3 7:39pm EST

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    This should be a great night of fights. Not a lot of top names, but the lower level talent pool almost always puts on a great show. Can't wait to see Fitch fight again. Mir, well, it will be nice to see if he can stand with Kongo or not. The plan, I'm sure, is to take advantage of a weakling on the ground and grind out a decision or a stoppage if possible; but then Kongo isn't much of a test compared to Lesnar.
  24. Brizzle T
    1. Posted by Brizzle T Tue Nov 3 6:12pm EST

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    Despite what all the d bags on here will say, I'm looking forward to this card.
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