UFC 122 Preview: Nate Marquardt Talks Yushin Okami and Middleweight Title Shot

"I want to be the champion. Okami is the next step and I'm one step away from the belt. I'm not going to let him stop me. I'm going to do everything that I can in my power to beat Okami."

"Okami is a very strong opponent. He’s physically strong, he's tall, he's long, and he has a good judo base. He's well rounded in every area. I'm changing up my training just a little bit to work on those areas; making sure that I'm comfortable against a south paw, making sure that I'm going with bigger, stronger guys. There’s certain ways he likes to fight and certain ways he doesn't like to fight. So the more I can push him in the direction where he doesn't like to fight the better for me."

"I know I have the skills and the tools to be the champion. The main thing for me is to win this fight. I don't care how; I don't care if it's a submission, a knock out, I'm not going to give up and I'm going to win this fight."

Nate "The Great" Marquardt (30-9-2)
Win Rousimar Palhares - TKO (Punches) UFC FN 22
Loss Chael Sonnen - Decision (Unanimous) UFC 109
Win Demian Maia - KO (Punch) UFC 102

Yushin "Thunder" Okami (25-5)
Win Mark Munoz - Decision (Split) UFC Versus 2
Win Lucio Linhares - TKO (Doctor Stoppage) UFC FN 21
Loss Chael Sonnen - Decision (Unanimous) UFC 104