Fitch Faces St. Pierre as a Black Belt
Jon Fitch (Pictures) got a little boost Tuesday as he
prepares for his Aug. 9 title bout against welterweight champion
Georges St. Pierre
(Pictures) at UFC 87 "Seek and Destroy" in
Minneapolis, Minn.
The 30-year-old American Kickboxing Academy product was awarded his Guerilla jiu-jitsu black belt by Dave Camarillo, the founder of the system of the same name that culls Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo together and gears it toward mixed martial arts.
Fitch, who will have studied with Camarillo for five years come this November, becomes the well-known instructor's sixth black belt. However, Fitch holds the auspicious title of being the only student to start with Camarillo as a white belt and eventually earn top status.
"Fitch is the most dedicated martial artist I've ever worked with," says Camarillo. "He doesn't stop. He doesn't quit. He keeps coming."
A former Division I wrestler for Purdue University, Fitch's lineage is undeniable. Camarillo is a jiu-jitsu black belt under Ralph Gracie (Pictures), out of San Francisco, and also a black belt in judo. As AKA's head ground instructor, Camarillo also oversees the training of Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson (Pictures) and UFC welterweight contender Mike Swick (Pictures), to name a few.
Camarillo believes Fitch's recently recognized skills will come into play against the formidable St. Pierre, who recently traveled to Brazil to enhance his own jiu-jitsu game.
"The fight's going to play out everywhere, so of course -- whether he's on top or bottom," says Camarillo.
St. Pierre will look to snap Fitch's impressive 15-fight win streak, of which he has snagged his last eight victories within the Octagon's walls. In his last appearance, Fitch outscored a game Chris Wilson at UFC 82 on March 1.
The 30-year-old American Kickboxing Academy product was awarded his Guerilla jiu-jitsu black belt by Dave Camarillo, the founder of the system of the same name that culls Brazilian jiu-jitsu and judo together and gears it toward mixed martial arts.
Fitch, who will have studied with Camarillo for five years come this November, becomes the well-known instructor's sixth black belt. However, Fitch holds the auspicious title of being the only student to start with Camarillo as a white belt and eventually earn top status.
"Fitch is the most dedicated martial artist I've ever worked with," says Camarillo. "He doesn't stop. He doesn't quit. He keeps coming."
A former Division I wrestler for Purdue University, Fitch's lineage is undeniable. Camarillo is a jiu-jitsu black belt under Ralph Gracie (Pictures), out of San Francisco, and also a black belt in judo. As AKA's head ground instructor, Camarillo also oversees the training of Strikeforce lightweight champion Josh Thomson (Pictures) and UFC welterweight contender Mike Swick (Pictures), to name a few.
Camarillo believes Fitch's recently recognized skills will come into play against the formidable St. Pierre, who recently traveled to Brazil to enhance his own jiu-jitsu game.
"The fight's going to play out everywhere, so of course -- whether he's on top or bottom," says Camarillo.
St. Pierre will look to snap Fitch's impressive 15-fight win streak, of which he has snagged his last eight victories within the Octagon's walls. In his last appearance, Fitch outscored a game Chris Wilson at UFC 82 on March 1.
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