UFC welterweight contender Jon Fitch is serious about not fighting teammates.  So serious, in fact, that he’s willing to change weight classes to avoid such conflict.

"To me, there's no reason to fight a teammate," Fitch said in an interview with sportsnet.ca. "It's just not a fight [either of us are] interested in at all. It's a situation where, if Koscheck is able to win the belt and defend the belt, I will move up to 185.

Fitch also spoke of the size difference between being a welterweight and competing at middleweight:

“I think I have a good size frame," said the 6'1" Fitch. "I can put on 15 pounds. I may have to take a month off or so to put on some weight. The other thing is, that process may take over a year from now. I'll have fought every welterweight worth fighting by that time, so it would almost be time to move up anyway!"

The move is contingent upon Josh Koscheck defeating current champion Georges St. Pierre after their appearances as opposing coaches on the next season The Ultimate Fighter.  Fitch is predicting victory for his friend and teammate, and doesn’t see the top notch wrestling skills as a major part of the fight.

“I don’t know if it will be as much of a wrestling match this time," he said. "There might be a lot more striking involved. Koscheck’s striking is much improved since the first time they fought, and Georges has developed himself too…  It's an interesting fight. I think Koscheck is going to win it, but it’s a tough fight.”

The St. Pierre vs. Koscheck fight is scheduled to take place late in 2010, sometime after the filming of the television series.