Former UFC middleweight Nate Marquardt has signed with Strikeforce. The move was announced by Ariel Helwani on tonight's episode of UFC Tonight on Fuel. Fuel TV's twitter account verified the news as well:
@FUELTV
FUEL TV #BREAKING: @arielhelwani announced on #UFCTONIGHT - former #UFC Middleweight @NathanMarquardt has signed to @Strikeforce.
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Marquardt, who went 10-4 in his middleweight run in the UFC, was released by the promotion shortly before UFC on Versus 4, where he was going to make his welterweight debut against Rick Story. Marquardt had issues with his testosterone replacement therapy and couldn't get his levels under the Pennsyvlania Athletic Commission's set limit, which forced Dana White to remove him from the fight (and the company) and replace him with Charlie Brenneman.
Nate had signed with BAMMA a few months ago, but card delays led to him never fighting for the organization. He was released from his contract with them a few weeks ago, and will now join Strikeforce. It is unclear at this point if he will be competing at 185 or 170.
Update: Ariel said that Nate will be staying at welterweight.
1 recs | 153 comments
Lifetime ban!
pdl - February 21, 2012
Fighting in SF is just like a lifetime ban, actually…
Shnak - February 22, 2012
meh
The pay some of these SF fighters get is pretty legit. Also you can pretty much become the face of the organization if your a title holder. All in all its not that bad
HerbDeansBraidofhair - February 22, 2012
And fight once a year if you’re lucky… and probably stuck fighting Jardine at some point.
Shnak - February 22, 2012
Please come back at 185. I’m sure Nate could do good at welterweight with his skillset, but middleweight is desperately in need of legit contenders and Marquardt is top 5 easy.
savik - February 21, 2012
I just have so much trouble believing that Marquardt isn't drained at 170.
He always seemed like such a big middleweight to me.
ElliotMatheny - February 21, 2012
I doubt he stays at 170 there’s no reason to.
Chris Hall - February 22, 2012 via Android app
He thinks he'll do better there.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Interesting, I guess
He was always very good at MW, without sonnen and Silva in his way, I don’t see any reason for him to go to WW.
Chris Hall - February 22, 2012
I think so too.
I guess he feels undersized, though. The guy sure looked small at welterweight range
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Ya I thought Marquardt looked like a small welterweight to.
same with that Anthony Johnson guy, just tiny.
TheCode - February 22, 2012
I mean small for Nate Marquardt.
He was considerably thinner than I remember him being at 185
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Sure there's a reason
The same that made him drop in the first place: He wants to get back in the UFC. Once there, he has no shot at the upper-class @ 185, especially if Silva is not retired yet. That’s why he dropped, that’s why he’ll stay at 170, unless he fails miserably at the new weight. IMO, of course.
KGNLuc - February 22, 2012
well
He was saying he was not cutting much weight to get to 185, also his cut for the rick story fight was fine. He was saying that the way hes built its a lot easier for him to lose weight or something, there was an interview a long time ago
HerbDeansBraidofhair - February 22, 2012
I remember that,
it’s just seems crazy to me. I always thought he was so big at 185
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Nate vs jacerae sounds awesome.
J smooth 420 - February 21, 2012 via mobile
It's no coincidence Jacare just lost his opponent too
Codisious - February 22, 2012
Zuffa dominance sucks up another top fighter!
Put him in at 185, SF could use the contenders for that belt.
Chris Groves - February 21, 2012
Could see this coming a mile off.
I mean, what other options were there for him???? And I bet Zuffa are paying him a fraction of what hus UFC deal was worth,
At least he adds some depth to the welterweight division now.
@KatanaClothing - February 22, 2012
Luke Rockhold might actually have a fight on his hands shortly
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
no
please save us from Tyron Woodley before going back to mw.
Tats16 - February 21, 2012
dude we saw what Chael did to Nate.
that may have the opposite result of what you are looking for
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
Its a risk I’m willing to take.
Tats16 - February 21, 2012
would you risk your sanity watching a fight between Woodley and Volkmann?
Victor Rodriguez - February 21, 2012
In my eyes Christmas is not even in the same boat as Woodley when it comes to boring-ness
Shocbomb - February 21, 2012
Sure
it’s called a break to go make dinner
Cory Braiterman - February 22, 2012
Perhaps
But Daley was doing fairly well stuffing Woodley’s takedowns. Obviously Tyron’s persistence eventually made Daley fade, but I’d have confidence in Marquardt.
AwkwardBoner - February 21, 2012
Unlike Psychoblack
Paul Daley is imminently fadeable in the grappling department
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
I have the sneaking suspicion
that Woodley would not power through the strikes Nate hit Chael with. I’m still unsure how Chael survived that monster knee.
Cocytus - February 21, 2012
Let's not pretend Woodley is as good as Sonnen.
discoandherpes - February 22, 2012
This.
Chris Hall - February 22, 2012
He's definitely not as good at getting submitted
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Now, I hate to interrupt some good Chael bashing, but we're not really acting like Woodley has faced any where near Chael's competition are we?
Chris Hall - February 22, 2012
Of course not.
Tyron has only had 10 pro fights. His last 5 fights have all been against stiff competition, though.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
He almost got hit with an omoplata by Paul Daley
discoandherpes - February 22, 2012
Chael Sonnen got triangled by Forrest Griffin of all people.
When has Forrest ever triangled anyone?
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
I'll say this for Chael
At least he’s progressed in terms of the level of the guys who have submitted him. He started with Forrest Griffin and now he’s getting submitted by the very best.
Patrick Wyman - February 22, 2012
Forrest subbed Shogun. Just saying.
ANance - February 22, 2012 via mobile
Not from his back
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
I could watch this montage all day
Clay Davis - February 22, 2012
Woodley is no Chael
RolloTomasi - February 22, 2012
He is no Bisping either
krste - February 22, 2012 via Android app
chael..
Chael is a pretty big middle weight isnt he? We have also seen he has some of the best mma wrestling at 185. Nate almost pulled out a W in that fight with a triangle, but with Sonnen’s sub defense history it seems he really should have pulled it off haha
HerbDeansBraidofhair - February 22, 2012
Will be interesting to see if he gets an instant title shot.
I think he takes Rockhold handily.
Detective Squirts - February 21, 2012
I would have thought that to
untill I watched Luke handle Jacare. He was really impressive in that fight.
KIARIOracer - February 21, 2012
I don’t know if he actually handled him now ? It was a pretty dam close fight, one is which Luke won 2 rounds and Jacare 3
Shocbomb - February 21, 2012
It wasn't that close
Jacare clearly won one round, two if you’re feeling generous.
Patrick Wyman - February 22, 2012
If Zuffa ran the justice system like they do with their fighters
Anyone doing life in prison without parole would probably be a free man right now.
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
except Frank Shamrock
that motherfucker would have been sent to the gallows
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
i don’t know what the beef truly is between Zuffa and Shamrock, but just for his atrocious commentary alone i’m siding with Zuffa.
Victor Rodriguez - February 21, 2012
but he gets a pass on the braces.....interesting
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
nobody wants to have fucked up teeth like that – but between his shitty booth work and his claim to ‘love’ the sport he’s so indifferent to, yeah. the braces get a pass.
full disclosure, i had braces. so whatevs.
Victor Rodriguez - February 21, 2012
It’s not a complete surprise. Dana was asked about him a few weeks ago:
“I don’t dislike Nate,” White said. “I like Nate very much. We’ll see what happens.”
Tim Burke - February 21, 2012
In fairness, he was actually talking about Kid Nate.....
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
That doesn’t sound right at all.
Tats16 - February 21, 2012
Dana blames Kid Nate
I see the BE headline now
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
Fuck it
Fight at both weight classes….
It’s good to here a Strikforce signing that place died for a little while
rscott94 - February 21, 2012
What other legitimate fighters could Strikeforce sign that are not UFC bound?
I use legitimate loosely but maybe Zuffa could make Strikeforce fun again.
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
Brett Rogers
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
I only want to see that a-hole in a cage with CM Punk
http://www.twitvid.com/4CAPE
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
well yeah
I would like to see Brett in a gauntlet match with Punk, JDS, Barnett, Cormier and Edson Barboza.
The referee will be Steve Mazzagatti, but not just any Steve Mazzagatti. A blindfolded Steve Mazzagatti who did 5 minutes spinning circles around a tee ball bat after drinking a fifth of Jameson
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
Dude, Kim Winslow being herself is way easier than doing that to Mazzagatti.
Either get her or Wario Yamasaki.
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
You are telling me you would NOT want to see Steve ref a gauntlet match after that???
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
Only If Kongo was included
and only allowed to use groin strikes
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
Get Cerrone in this, too
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
Actually if we want to promote Boxing vs. MMA
Let’s include Abner Mares for dick punches, not kicks or knees.
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
I'd rather it'd be Herb Dean
Brett gets the shit beat out of him but it stops for 3 seconds and Herb says “let’s work guys” and the ass kicking restarts.
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
it might have to be Rosenthal
that dude wants to see death in just normal fights
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
Lets have rotating Referees
Start with Mazzagatti, then Wario Yamasaki, then Kim Winslow, then Herb Dean, the Rosenthal, in that order. While they are waiting, they play the drinking game you previously described. Also give Team Alpha Male baseball bats while they get their chance.
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
of course Team Alpha male gets bats
who do you think brought the tee ball bat down to the arena?
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
Dominick Cruz
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
Is that the evil doppelganger of mario yamasaki?
Clay Davis - February 22, 2012
Not all of these are realistic for various reasons, but:
Mamed Khalidov
Tom Watson
Thales Leites
Tim Burke - February 21, 2012
Thales Leites was with MFC wasn't he?
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
He was, hasn’t fought for them for close to two years though. He’s been fighting for Superior Challenge in Sweden lately.
Tim Burke - February 21, 2012
They haven't done a show
Since last April, right?
Patrick Wyman - February 21, 2012
Ahh got ya
It’s not that I’m against Strikeforce signing Leites, but oh god will they have to find someone to make him interesting to watch.
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
Patrick Cote too.
Tim Burke - February 21, 2012
Scott Coker should buy MFC
Not Zuffa, but Scott Coker personally should buy them.
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
Cote is getting up there in age, though
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
He’s be 32 next week.
Tim Burke - February 21, 2012
might as well be 52
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
Damn. Thought he was way older than that.
He probably has the knees of a 60 year old though.
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
And it's hard to say Cote is legitimate other than as depth.
Because Jacare would tap him out instantly and Rockhold + Kennedy would beat him easily.
Cote vs. Lawler?
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
He's a baby!
KatGirl - February 21, 2012
Big fan of Khalidov.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
Scott Coker should buy BAMMA and whatever org Khalidov is in
Andy Anderson - February 22, 2012
KSW is actually doing good things in Poland IMO
Sure, they put on the occasional freak show, but I don’t think buying them out would be the greatest idea for either party.
I would like to see Khalidov against better competition, though.
ElliotMatheny - February 22, 2012
You don't understand...
I want Scott Coker to personally buy these orgs. Like some MMA evil genius.
Andy Anderson - February 22, 2012
Ronys Torres.
TheLastEmpress - February 21, 2012
Woodley gonna get his Volkmann on for 5 rounds.
Anthony Peer - February 21, 2012 via mobile
Woodley would get crushed by any top 15 WW.
Sadly, Marquardt hasn’t really fought at WW so….
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
Make bad Obama jokes?
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
He gasses hard after three
I think he would die in the fifth.
discoandherpes - February 22, 2012
Lots of fun fights for him in Strikeforce
Rockhold, Jacare, Kennedy, Woodley (I use the term “fun” loosely), and Daley. He’s already fought pretty much every relevant UFC 185er, so why not?
Patrick Wyman - February 21, 2012
Update
Ariel said Nate will be staying at welterweight.
Tim Burke - February 21, 2012
Woodley vs. Marquardt immediate title shot
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
Who does the winner fight for the title?
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
Keith Jardine
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
Kenny Florian.
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
I like the cut of your jib
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
What's a jib?
Sugel Mendoza - February 21, 2012
Some part of a large wooden ship
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
I'm pretty sure
“cut of your jib” has to do with the orientation of the sails, or some such nonsense.
Andy Davis - February 21, 2012
You are probably correct
Andy Anderson - February 22, 2012
I was making a Simpsons reference.
Sugel Mendoza - February 22, 2012
and probably fighting TWood
rscott94 - February 21, 2012
in before gif of Woodley’s mom.
Kenya_MMA - February 21, 2012
staying at welterweight?
he never made welterweight to begin with
Rod Mapada - February 21, 2012
Hmmm...is Dana not bad at Rumble anymore?
Let’s do Marquardt vs. Rumble at welterweight. Which will really be light heavy.
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
They should just accept that we all know Strikeforce is like a Circus Side Show
And go balls in and announce Marquardt vs Rumble for the AppleCrumbleWeight Belt with the winner fighting to take the Franklinweight Belt if Rich beats Tim Sylvia.
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
Most of Marquardt’s pre-UFC career took place at WW.
Steve4192 - February 22, 2012
good for Nate and good for Strikeforce as well as the sport.
Victor Rodriguez - February 21, 2012
If (when) Nate wins the WW belt
does he go on to the UFC to challenge GSP in a Champion vs Champion bout?
Ricardo Arguello - February 21, 2012
Of course
Andy Anderson - February 21, 2012
Why do you hate Nate Marquardt so much?
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
do i?
news to me. I think he’s a great guy and exciting fighter. He tends to muff in the big fights but other than that he’s a really good fighter.
Ricardo Arguello - February 21, 2012
It's a joke
I think GSP would nuke Marquardt.
SSreporters - February 21, 2012
Ohhh
I see what you did there…
I dont think they would fight each other. I think Nate said so in the past. But who knows…
Ricardo Arguello - February 21, 2012
I think they would, no problem. He just said “we’ll handle it when it comes to that”. Marquardt’s main place is Grudge in Colorado, GSP is mainly at Tristar in Montreal
Horselover Fat - February 22, 2012
NUKE????????
LOL ONLY IF NUKE MEENS LAYNPRAY OH YEAH
halitosis - February 21, 2012
Staying at ww?
Luke needs some competitors, Nate is pretty competitive at MW
elmojo - February 21, 2012
As shallow as Strikeforce’s MW division is, WW is even shallower.
At least at MW, they have an exciting champion. No one wants to see a damn sleeping pill like Woodley wearing a belt. Enter Marquardt.
Steve4192 - February 22, 2012
Good for Nate, and good for us fans. Such a waste to see him not fighting in Bamma when he could’ve been in Strikeforce all along.
Empty Thoughts - February 21, 2012
Doesnt Jacare need an opponent?
TheLastEmpress - February 21, 2012
....he does
rscott94 - February 21, 2012
Why's he staying at 170lbs?
I can see them putting him there so at least they can have a face for that division. So what are they gonna have him fight Woodley for the vacant title? Wow, there’s a fight I really wanna see
If he was at 185lbs he’d have more fights at least. Between him, Rockhold, Jacare, and Kennedy they’d put on some good fights.
Robust23 - February 21, 2012
It makes sense though to rather have Marquardt than Woodley as champion. Can you imagine Woodley as their WW champion? That would be HORRIBLE. I’m not a fan of Rockhold either, but come on..
Horselover Fat - February 22, 2012
dont get this move at all!
dana trying too hard to breathe life in SF, it wont work.
carmine99 - February 21, 2012
whats bad about it?
Earl Montclair - February 21, 2012
that we're still pretending....
we all know where SF is headed, wronging guys like rockhold and gil is going to bite dana in the butt, karma.
carmine99 - February 21, 2012
Strikeforce is headed…towards 16 cards with good action where guys get paid pretty well.
Tim Burke - February 21, 2012
dont you think.....
something is really wrong with that ? they are barren of talent, if they are going to reach out for untapped talent, why bother keeping guys like nate, luke, gil around ? is it really fair to them ?
carmine99 - February 21, 2012
no one forced them to sign
Phildo - February 21, 2012
that's really not....
what you expect from a mma fan, you sound like you are on zuffa payroll, i find it hard to believe that so many people are indifferent to the plight of these talented fighters, who are stuck in a talentless org in the prime of their career.
carmine99 - February 21, 2012
You can’t have it both ways. You can’t cry that there need to be 2 orgs so pay can go up and then not live with the consequences. This is what happens every time an org overpays for fighters, they die/get sold to zuffa and people get stuck in limbo. That’s the risk the fighters took by accepting the paycheck. They made the choice, they have to live with it, so do you.
Being stuck in the talentless org is better than being unemployed, and without strikeforce more people would be out of work than there are now.
Phildo - February 22, 2012
just as many ppl..
under the UFC banner cried foul over the monopoly, and wanted 2 orgs, why are you singling out the SF fighters ? actually it was more beneficial for UFC guys since dana has been firing ppl left and right. fact is, there is no level playing field in this sport.
dana & co plays hard ball with nice guys like gil, nate, fitch etc, and get on their knees for guys like diaz and bisping.
carmine99 - February 22, 2012
I’m not singling out anyone, I’m saying I’m not going to cry for fighters who made a choice, and are living with it, and not crying about it.
It really isn’t even that much worse than it was before. Signing the highest ranked MW outside of zuffa to a Strikeforce contract isn’t really the time to whine about there being no talent in the org.
There is no level playing field for anyone. There is only 1 dominant org because there is only demand for 1 dominant org, supply and demand works both ways. If 2 orgs could work, it would be that way, but it doesn’t, so fighters and fans need to deal with it.
Phildo - February 22, 2012
They all chose to sign with SF, Gil resigned quite recently in fact. They all make good money. I call that fair.
Tim Burke - February 21, 2012
at this point....
i really doubt that guys like gil and luke are in for the paychecks, sure they put food on the table, but they know they belong in the UFC, i dont get why they signed new contracts either, its baffling.
but i dont see SF surviving for long, there is a lot of uncertainty in this sport, back door politics, so who knows…also i dont take dana’s word for anything, he is notorious for being a liar. i would be really surprised if all those 16 planned cards come to fruition.
carmine99 - February 21, 2012
Well, what you think about them seems to differ from reality as they did resign with Strikeforce. And so clearly are fine being there.
forkboy - February 22, 2012
if they are making good money no reason to complain sure maybe in a “sportying” sense but ya know what they signed the contract
MaZZacare - February 21, 2012
lol
Body Triangle - February 22, 2012
Nate Marquardt WW champion of Strikeforce would like to see him fight Rockhold to because why not
MaZZacare - February 21, 2012
T-Wood vs. Marquardt for the belt
discoandherpes - February 22, 2012
Great for Nate
Some people are viewing this as a step back for Nate but I disagree. This will give Nate the opportunity to win a Zuffa belt in a very quick timeframe. We all know that eventually the great male fighters and champions in Strikeforce will be moved into the UFC. Strikeforce champions will be given precedence when entering the UFC and quite possibly be given a UFC title unification. The UFC welterweight division is a mess right now and will be for a while.
CRWHITLOCK - February 22, 2012
How would SF be a step backward, when his last contract was with BAMMA?
Chris Hall - February 22, 2012
Who will he fight Tarec Saffiedine, Jordan Mein, Tyron Woodley, Scott Smith
only strikeforce ww’s Icould name off top
not the most stacked division in SF.
Elitex10x - February 22, 2012
It's gotta be Woodley. They need a belt holder and with Woodley coming off the win over Mein, it's probably the best match up for the title.
Chris Hall - February 22, 2012
Giggity
I want Marquardt vs Daley. Nate must come in at a Testosterone Ratio at least 4 Times above the allowed limit and Daley must sucker punch him after every round as a bonus punch (included in the contract that’s written in crayon).
Sir Jacob of Ortingham - February 22, 2012
This is a good move for Marquardt, in my opinion. Plus the fact that it bolsters Strikeforce’s welterweight division. If Paul Daley gets through his next fight next month, then there will be at least a couple of potentially interesting match-ups in the division. Smart move by Zuffa.
@KatanaClothing - February 22, 2012
MMAJunkie says he's verbally agreed to fight Woodley
Good stuff right there.
Chris Groves - February 22, 2012
the strikeforce mw division is so stacked! it's gonna take a while for nate to get a title shot. XD
Rampage01 - February 22, 2012
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