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Jon Fitch cleared to fight, wants to return in San Jose

The top welterweight contender is officially on the comeback trail.

UFC 127: Penn v FitchGetty Images
Jon Fitch at UFC 127

Top welterweight contender Jon Fitch is officially on the comeback trail.

Fitch tweeted on Monday that he was medically cleared to fight following right shoulder surgery.

When contacted by NBCSports.com about who he would like to fight next, Fitch replied, "Everyone I really want to fight is busy, so I'll fight whoever they tell me right night now. Just don't want to wait to fight."

It appears as though Fitch has changed his stance from only wanting to fight champions or former champions. In fact, the American Kickboxing Academy star only has one request for his employers at the UFC: fight in his adopted hometown of San Jose, Calif.

UFC 139 is scheduled to take place Nov. 19 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. Fitch's AKA teammate, heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez, is expected to defend his title against Junior dos Santos in the main event.

And Fitch (23-3-1, 1 NC) is right: most of the top 170-pound contenders are busy in the fall, except for rising star Rory MacDonald. When asked about the possibility of facing the 22-year-old Canadian, Fitch said, "anybody, as long as it's in San Jose."

Fitch was last seen fighting to a draw with BJ Penn at UFC 127 in February. The pair were supposed to fight again in July, but Fitch's shoulder injury forced him to withdraw from the bout.

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