• UFC 137

Penn v Fitch snubbed, Condit calls out the Prodigy

BJ Penn and Jon Fitch look unlikely to settle their differences after their draw at UFC 127 © Getty Images

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BJ Penn's long-expected rematch with Jon Fitch appears to be off as of Tuesday, with the Prodigy now eyeing a welterweight showdown with man-of-the-moment Carlos Condit.

Twitter was the place to be for the latest news surrounding the top contenders in the 170lb division. First Penn told Fitch to forget the idea of them doing battle for a second time, before Condit poked away at Penn to get his own crack at the former champion.

The first Fitch v Penn encounter was never an inspiring affair, eventually ending in a draw that left the UFC planning a rematch. However, that was back when the welterweight division was drying up fast; six months on Condit and Jake Ellenberger are both writing headlines that seem to be turning the eye of UFC matchmakers.

"[I] tried to make it happen but Joe Silva said 'the fans don't want it & I'm not interested'. Not much more I can do on my end," Penn wrote to Fitch on Twitter.

Pouncing on the situation Condit, who is coming off two Knockout of the Night victories over Dong-Hyun Kim and Dan Hardy, called out Penn for what - on paper - would seem a far more fan-friendly war. "The people have spoken @bjpenndotcom, they want to see us scrap, let's give them what they asked for," Condit posted.

Penn's response would suggest that they could be heading for UFC 137, on the same card as Georges St-Pierre's title defence against Nick Diaz. The obvious opportunity for the winner of Condit v Penn to enter the Octagon at the end of St-Pierre v Diaz would make engrossing television.

"@CarlosCondit Yup. Let's do it! October 29th," Penn responded. The UFC is yet to make official comment on the bout.

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