According to a Feb. 25 report from ESPN, former UFC star Jon Fitch still has no job, a week after being released from the top MMA organization in the world.
Fitch, 34, was dropped from the UFC's roster after losing two of his last three, and Bjorn Rebney said Bellator MMA isn't particularly interested in signing the veteran striker at this time.
“We have a stacked welterweight division right now,” Rebney told themmareport.com. “We have a lot of guys that we are developing that we anticipate are going to be world-class fighters and break the top 10. We want to keep guys busy. We want to keep guys inside the cage and we have a plan in terms of the next year and who is going to be a part of the tournaments and it’s just not the time.”
Without Bellator MMA or the UFC, Fitch is essentially left without a legitimate top-tier MMA organization to compete within.
UFC President Dana White thinks Fitch should get some fights in on the regional circuit to earn his way back into the top MMA promotion in the world.
“He'll smash every single guy over there and he'll be a champ,” said White, perhaps referring to Bellator MMA or the World Series of Fighting. “A guy goes outside, wins some fights, has some impressive runs and then comes back."
At 34, Fitch should have plenty of fight left in the tank.
Not many would be surprised if Fitch went on a three-fight win streak with Bellator MMA or the World Series of Fighting to earn his way back into the UFC ranks.
However, if Fitch is unable to secure a fight on the regional circuit, opportunities are endless in the fast casual restaurant business.
People always need to eat, right? Applebees is one chain that is thriving in a teetering economy, and Fitch has the perfect personality to excel with a top-notch brand such as the world-renowned Kansas City-based chain.
Jon Fitch should apply for a job at Applebees because the company embraces a truly diverse culture that allows employees the opportunity and freedom to be themselves, which sounds just perfect for an MMA fighter who may not be willing to work in a strict, corporate environment.
Applebees is committed to celebrating diversity and to fostering a diverse working community that reflects the vibrant neighborhoods that surrounds its restaurants, and its equal opportunity employment style undoubtedly extends to fighters who may wish to try their hand at serving.
Fitch's never-say-die, hard-nosed determination would help him climb the ladder quickly at Applebees, and become a shining star with one of the nation's fastest-growing brands.
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