Jon Fitch hopes to emerge as a title contender with win over Neiman Gracie at Bellator 246

UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Jon Fitch sees big implications in his co-main event matchup Saturday.

Fitch (32-7-2 MMA, 1-0 BMMA) faces Neiman Gracie at Bellator 246 at Mohegan Sun Arena and hopes that with a win, he’s next in line for welterweight champion Douglas Lima.

Fitch went to a majority draw with Rory MacDonald in his most recent outing in the quarterfinals of the Bellator welterweight grand prix, but as a result, then-champion MacDonald advanced in the tournament.

It was a deflating result for Fitch, who was on a five-fight winning streak. But in facing a young prospect like Gracie (9-1 MMA, 7-1 BMMA), he’s rejuvenated again.

“I win the fight, it puts me in a position where I’m quite arguably fighting for a title next,” Fitch told MMA Junkie on Wednesday. “That’s fun, so I’m into it.”

Fitch, 42, is a longtime fighter who has taken on a who’s-who at 170 pounds. The former WSOF welterweight champ and former UFC welterweight title challenger thinks a fight between him and Lima would sell, and set up a potential Cinderella-type story if he could win the title.

“I would think so, not just because of rankings or whatever, but just my level of notoriety,” Fitch said. “I think it would bring more eyeballs to the fight. It would be a big fight and a lot of people would want to see the old guy maybe win the title.”

In what is being dubbed as a clash between a grappler and a jiu-jitsu ace, Fitch is wary of the dangers in Gracie’s game, but thinks he’s the more well-rounded fighter.

“I’ve got a lot of tools to use, but it’s a situation where one guy is so good at what he does, but if he drags you into that arena you can have problems,” Fitch said. “Jake Shields is a similar fight. Demian Maia is a similar fight. It doesn’t matter how good you are in certain areas, they’re so good in that one area that if you make one mistake, you’re in trouble.

“Anything can happen. He’s got a high skill set. He’s a master at what he does. I’m a master at a number of things. I’m hoping that my masters will overcome his master.”