Bodog Beat

Fitch could tie Royce Gracie's UFC record this weekend. (MMAweekly.com Photo)

On Saturday, March 1 at UFC 82: Pride of a Champion, Jon Fitch (15-2-0) could tie Royce Gracie's (14-3-3) record for the longest winning streak in the UFC.

Starting at the first Ultimate Fighting Championship in 1993, Gracie won eight straight fights, taking out Ken Shamrock and Kimo Leopoldo along the way. After defeating Kimo by armbar at UFC 3: The American Dream, Gracie returned to the octagon to face Canadian karate expert Harold Howard, but his corner threw in the towel before the fight began.

Undefeated since 2002, Fitch has seven consecutive wins inside the octagon, and is coming off a split decision victory over former UFC poster-boy Diego "Nightmare" Sanchez from September of 2007.

At UFC 82, Fitch will face Team Quest fighter Chris "The Professor" Wilson (13-3-0) who is riding a four-fight winning streak, although March 1 will mark his octagon debut. In his two last matches, "The Professor" beat Derrick Noble and Ray Steinbeiss at Bodog Fight events.

Currently, Fitch is the -550 favorite in the Bodog Sportsbook, while Wilson is a +350 underdog.