While the Average Joe slobbers over the prospect of Georges St. Pierre/B.J. Penn part deux, the savvy mixed martial arts fan knows the UFC 94 undercard is loaded with quality bouts sure to sneak their way onto the pay-per-view broadcast. Forget the headliners; this Saturday’s undercard at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas is stacked like Scarlett Johansson.

Between former title challenger Jon Fitch taking on Japan’s premier penguin aficionado, Akihiro Gono, and a vintage judo-versus-jiu-jitsu battle lined up between Manny Gamburyan and Thiago Tavares, there’s something for every palate.

Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono

Jon Fitch Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 6’0/170 lbs.
Age: 30
Hometown: Ft. Wayne, Ind.
Fighting out of: San Jose, Calif.
Record: 17-3 (1 NC)

The stakes: After a fracas over image licensing rights nearly got Fitch and the rest of the American Kickboxing Academy kicked out of the UFC, the square-jawed former title challenger now finds himself getting a bit of the backlash with a demotion to undercard status. For the time being, Fitch has to forget about rebuilding his resume and focus on escaping dark match prison, a feat that took 15 months the first time around.

The breakdown: Easy as it is to get caught up in Gono’s flamboyant mannerisms, Fitch merely has to focus on closing the pocket early and creating the kind of up-close clash on which he thrives. In his title match with Georges St. Pierre at UFC 87, Fitch paid a heavy toll for overrating his own striking; that’s the mistake he must avoid against Gono, whose counter-striking style and elusive movement make him a frustrating foe on the feet. A go-back-to-your-roots strategy is in order for Fitch, and if he sticks to it, he’ll have Gono on the bullet train to Maultown.

Akihiro “The Japanese Sensation” Gono Scouting Report
Ht/Wt: 5’9/170 lbs.
Age: 34
Hometown: Saitama, Japan
Fighting out of: Tokyo
Record: 29-13-7

The stakes: Thanks to a disheartening split decision loss to British newcomer Dan Hardy, Gono enters this match in a must-win situation, as he has yet to truly impress since arriving in the UFC more than a year ago. With every fighter in the welterweight ranks looking to step on the next guy’s head if it means moving up the ladder, Gono needs a career-changing performance against Fitch or he’ll end up as just another gatekeeper in a division full of them.

The breakdown: Although Gono’s submission savvy has been one of his strong suits in the past, trying to work your guard against a wrestler like Fitch is no easy task. With that in mind, Gono has to remain focused on keeping Fitch at arm’s reach while sending the occasional reminder that stepping forward will mean a fist to the face or a shin to the ribs. It’ll be far from easy, but if Gono can establish a strong rhythm on the feet, he has the striking to keep Fitch on the defensive, which is where he must keep him to win.


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The bottom line: It’s hard to imagine Fitch repeating the mistake that cost him so dearly against St. Pierre, and while Gono’s a fundamentally sound striker, he lacks the kill-shot power needed to force Fitch on the defensive. With Fitch having free reign to close the pocket without fear of facial realignment, he’ll have no problem methodically breaking down Gono in the clinch before moving on to his usual ground-and-pound clinic. You won’t need to hear the judges’ scorecards to know the winner; just take a look at Gono’s grill after the final horn.