UPDATED: With Sonnen In Trouble, What's Next for Nate Marquardt in the UFC?
by Nate Wilcox on Sep 19, 2010 1:51 PM EDT
in UFC News
Email
Print
Note: I wrote this before the news of Chael Sonnen's failed drug test came out. Obviously the possibility of an immediate title shot for Marquardt changes things considerably. Post Sonnen PED story update at the bottom.
After making short work of Rousimar Palhares, Nate Marquardt has re-established himself back near the top of the UFC's middleweight division. He's even made the big time by being named Panty Dropper of the Week by Gal's Guide to MMA. But now that he's back on top, there's some debate as to what's next for Nate the Great.
Tomas Rios wants to see Marquardt vs Wanderlei Silva:
It's easy to forget that Silva beat Michael Bisping and has as legitimate a claim as anyone to middleweight title contention. Injuries have him on the shelf for the time being, but he will be back in early 2011. Pitting him against Marquardt would give the UFC another welcomed middleweight title challenger.
Besides the upcoming No. 1 contender's match between Vitor Belfort and Yushin Okami at UFC 122, there are no obvious title eliminators in the offing -- a problem this bout addresses nicely. As for the violence factor, Silva's raging bull style strikes a nice counterpoint to Marquardt's composed cage generalship, and if recent history serves as any indication, "The Great" brings his "A" game against Brazilians. See Wilson Gouveia, Demian Maia and Rousimar Palhares.
Considering both men are on the wrong side of 30, the time is now to slot one of them into a contender's bout. Might as well make it happen by creating this high-stakes affair and cutting Silva loose like some sort of Brazilian kraken.
Fighters Only is leaning Michael Bisping:
A middleweight meeting between Nate Marquardt and Michael Bisping is likely to go ahead - if the Brit gets past Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 12 0 in October.
...
Having won his fight with Palhares in the first round of their Tuesday night clash, Marquardt then said he would be looking for a fight with Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Bisping or Yushin Okami next.
Sources close to the situation say that the Bisping match is still the one most likely to be made, but it depends on Bisping's showing against Yoshihiro Akiyama on October 16th. The two are headlining UFC 120 and Bisping badly wants to get a title run going.
Personally I'm kind of surprised that no one has mentioned Chris Leben who's red hot coming off back-to-back wins over Wanderlei Silva Yoshihiro Akiyama and Aaron Simpson. I'm also amused at those who are expecting Michael Bisping to beat Yoshihiro Akiyama.
Who do you think should be next for Nate Marquardt?
UPDATE: Dave Meltzer (subscription required) talks to Dana White after the CSAC announced that Chael Sonnen had failed his PED test:
If Sonnen tests positive and is suspended, White said they would have to make a decision on what to do next in the middleweight division.
The Vitor Belfort vs. Yushin Okami winner would figure to have the best shot, but there is a timing issue, as that could delay Silva's return by a month or more. Nate Marquardt, who came out of Wednesday's fight unscathed, would be ready whenever Silva was. Michael Bisping, should he beat Yoshihiro Akiyama, would be in the middle in the sense he's a bigger name than Marquardt, and could be ready earlier than the Belfort-Okami winner.
47 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I think with Chael having a potential obligation to the CSAC he may be on the lighting fast track back to the title match. I think he gets through Leben easily.
I do not agree
1) he is only on a one fight win streak
2) he already fought a. silva and lost
3) his last win is not all that impressive since Paul Harris stopped defending himself.
Surely it’s the winner of Okami/Belfort for the next shot now, barring an absolultely horrible performance by the winner in that fight.
OK, I agree
Shouldn’t need more than two. Really, if he beats the winner of Akiyama/Bisping, I’d be ready to give it to him.
Personally I’m kind of surprised that no one has mentioned Chris Leben who’s red hot coming off back-to-back wins over Wanderlei Silva and Aaron Simpson. I’m also amused at those who are expecting Michael Bisping to beat Yoshihiro Akiyama.
I think we are all pretty much expecting Leben vs Wanderlei.
As for Nate, I say maybe the loser of Okami/Belfort or Maia.
Nate Marquardt
I would to see Nate fight Chris Leben next.
by TERRENCEFROMSOUTHEAST on Sep 19, 2010 1:36 PM EDT reply actions
Nate
is too good for anything but the top of the heap. Either a rematch with Maia, or Okami/Belfort winner.
I think Nate whoops Bisping, Leben, or Silva. Or Akiyama.
BOOSH
I would love to see him vs Belfort, but I think that fight is for a title shot isn’t it? Apparently I’m expecting Belfort to win, lol.
I would like to see Nate beat down Bisping, but Maia is the fight I want to see.
If the UFC wants to hype a title-eliminator, BUT...
Leave themselves room (as they so often do) to back-off of that hype if better options crop up, then Marquardt-Leben is not only legitimate but a Spike main event or even co-main event on a weaker card. Even though I agree Marquardt should win this, I feel like as long as Leben is not finished, the fight should be exciting.
by flassasin24 on Sep 19, 2010 2:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
W. Silva v. Leben
Okami v. Belfort
Marquardt v. winner of Akiyama/Bisping
Loser of Okami v. Belfort gets Maia.
Not sure why Marquart is “back in the hunt” any more so than Akiyama/Bisping, esp. since he only won so easily because of a startling mental error on behalf of Paul Harris. He is 1-1 in his last fight. And he lost to Leites – while we’re on the subject of him fighting Brazilians.
But if he gets by the winner of Bisping/Akiyama (guys who are both still only a few wins away, depending on how the rest of the division shakes down) then it’s time to talk.
Using Nate's "loss" to Leites as evidence for him not being a title contender,
is like trying to say that Hamill moved up in the rankings after “beating” Jon Jones.
by Scott Haber on Sep 19, 2010 1:52 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
well
I don’t disagree. Still, a loss is a loss. Don’t let it go to the scorecards, and all that.
And I’m not sure I’d compare it to Jones’s “loss” to Hamill. More like Hamill’s loss to Bisping.
I would say that there is a slight, but noticable, difference between the two fights? I don`t appreciate that people tend to forget that Leites got an ILLEGAL KNEE TO THE HEAD. Leites was on queer street when the fight was re-started.
If Evil has a name, I`m certain it`s "Ellsworth Monkton Toohey"
by BlueberryMuffin on Sep 19, 2010 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions
Then he shouldn't have continued...
and Nate would have been DQ’d.
I like Fedor, it’s just his fans that are intolerable...and his management.
I would love to watch a Wandy vs Nate fight, with the winner challenging Anderson Silva. Either victor would make good angles, Wandy and Anderson detest each other and Nate would have a hard earned rematch. The winner of the Bisping/Akiyama fight should be facing Leben, not a big fan of Bisping’s deluded belief that he should earn a title shot after the Akiyama fight.
Also?
The eventual possibility of Silva vs. Silva posters based on this:
http://fightdrinker.blogspot.com
by some schmuck in texas on Sep 19, 2010 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Stylistically and competitively speaking, I’d prefer Leben vs. Wandy and Marquardt vs. Okami / Belfort winner. I don’t even really know why Bisping and Akiyama are in the picture here; when was the last time Bisping impressed against a game opponent? And Akiyama got a decision win that should have gone to Belcher before losing to Leben. Let Paul Harris or the winner of Munoz / Simpson fight the winner of Bisping / Akiyama.
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
by mburtoni on Sep 19, 2010 1:43 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
Bisping
Only lost 29-28 to W. Silva, although he didn’t really impress. He looked pretty good against Miller and Kang. His overall record is very good.
I thought (and FightMetric agreed, for what it’s worth) Akiyama beat Belcher and he was beating Leben before he got caught in that triangle with 20 seconds to go.
The point is they’re both relevant fighters and I don’t see how Marquardt is too good for a matchup with the winner of a fight between them, seeing as his last two fights are a loss and a quick win when his opponent made a bizarre mental error.
There’s no way I’d put Nate against the winner of Okami/Belfort. The winner of that fight deserves a title shot.
But that’s just my opinion.
Bisping was about 5 seconds from a certain KO loss
Mo Johnston finally fired. Let the house cleaning and road to success begin.
Hey Nate you think Akiyama can beat Bisping? I like him but i reckon he’ll be giving up at least 10 pounds come fight time. Respect your opinion though so i’ll have a few pounds on Sexiyama, the bookies in the UK give him no chance.
I think the size advantage is a factor
and Bisping will have a chance to outpoint Akiyama on the feet, but I also think Akiyama has a knack for landing hurtful counter punches and Bisping’s beard isn’t that strong.
On the ground, Bisping has a good guard and Akiyama has shown he’ll fade down the stretch. But Bisping doesn’t hit nearly as hard as Leben (or Sexyama).
So I think it’s too early to look past either man in that fight. Wish Akiyama would cut down to 170.
Follow me on Twitter @KidNate
Word on that shit
I would love to see Akiyama vs Alves, Koscheck, and GSP
I'm the best ever. You're the most average in a minute.
by slapjaw ackrite on Sep 20, 2010 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions
What do people think of...
… having Sonnen fight Palhares upon his return from suspension. It would certainly put Sonnen in a position to show that he can develop some submission defense or else punishing him for this PED debacle by having his legs ripped off. I could see not wanting to have Palhares wait that long and having him fit in against someone else before this, but I think he is a natural fit to set up against Sonnen upon return.
A Silva v Okami/Belfort
W Silva v Leben
Marquardt v Bisping/Akiyama
Maia/Grove v Simpson/Munoz
Sonnen v Palhares
Depends where Palhares is on the depth chart when he comes back.
But yeah, I like it too. Maia is another possibility. Wouldn’t mind seeing that rematch.
I agree with basically all of your suggetsions for fights.
Wandy – Maybe 5 years ago. (even though Wand is one of my favorite fighters of all time, his age would be the deciding factor.)
Bisping – Sleeping pill (no)
Akiyama – Maybe
Leben – I wish (would be a fun fight to watch, but no)
Okami – Ehh, no
Belfort – Maybe (although if he beats Okami, he deserves Silva.)
Seriously?
Are we really that impressed that Freshly Shaved Marq kO’d a guy who had him right where he wanted him but took his eyes off of him to get Knocked out? Give him a rematch! Wouldn’t be surprised if Marq took sweat out of a bucket from all his training partners and rub it all over his body!
New Rule
Yea Let’s make a new rule no sweating before match and you not allowed to shave. DQ Nate for illegal sweating jeez what was he thinking how dare he sweat.
Marquardt vs. Akiyama
Since Bisping ain’t beating Sexyama.
Mo Johnston finally fired. Let the house cleaning and road to success begin.
2 more fights for Nate before title...
Winner of Akiyama vs Bisping and then if he wins that, and Maia wins his next fight, perhaps a rematch between the two for a title eliminator match. I also thought WSilva vs Leben was happening. Nate could fight winner of that after winner of Akiyama vs Bisping. I don’t think he’ll be matched up with the parallel title contender in Vitor vs Okami as the UFC generally likes to have at least two (somewhat)legit contenders for scheduling/injury purposes.
They could always let Nate beat the shit out of Mikey.
When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are in a confederacy against him. - Jonathan Swift
Contributor for WatchKalibRun.com
Still Subo at Fightlinker.com
by Derek Suboticki on Sep 19, 2010 6:34 PM EDT reply actions
No way
should Bisping be anywhere near the title picture.
by av1o3 on Sep 19, 2010 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I couldn’t agree more
I could be sitting here with just pee stains on my rug.
by Earl Montclair on Sep 19, 2010 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions
Far as the title picture goes, IF Sonnen is suspended then the winner of Okami/Belfort gets the next shot while Nate stays on track to fight the winner of Akiyama/Bisping.
"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
-Joe Budden (Something To Ride To)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/76866807deabe3c1/
I would honestly love to see Marquardt against any of those guys
the MW division is the deepest its been, IMO. I think the perception of being a shallow division, here lately anyway, is incorrect. Maybe its just b/c the top guys aren’t big on star power.
I'm the best ever. You're the most average in a minute.
by slapjaw ackrite on Sep 20, 2010 1:36 AM EDT reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bloody Elbow
Related FanShots on Bloody Elbow
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
MMA Rankings
