Middleweight bout: Nate Marquardt vs. Rousimar Palhares
Odds: (-220 Marquardt /+180 Palhares )
Betting Pick: Nate Marquardt
In the main event of the evening, former title challenger Nate “The Great” Marquardt will look to get back in the win column and start another run at a title shot against prolific grappler Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares. Marquardt is one of the most well-rounded fighters in the world, but Palhares is a physical specimen with insanely good submissions, so he is going to have his hands full if he wants to get back to his winning ways.
Palhares, along with Demian Maia, is one of the premier grapplers in the Middleweight division. With his sole loss in the UFC having come to top contender Dan Henderson, Palhares has cemented himself as one of the top figures in the division with his potent mix of physicality, wrestling, and amazing submissions. His standup is still a work in progress, and he is going to have to be careful trading with Marquardt, but on the ground he is a match for pretty much anyone in the division.
Marquardt, who once challenged for the title and then fought Chael Sonnen for another title shot and came up short, is clearly one of the premier Middleweights in the world. His jiu-jitsu is very solid, especially from top position, and he has developed over the years into quite a formidable striker. The only hole in his game is his wrestling, which is not awful by any means, but it is not on the same level as the rest of his arsenal. Against Sonnen that hole in his game was exposed, but Palhares is not anywhere near Sonnen’s level in terms of wrestling, so it is unlikely that Marquardt gets steamrolled again.
As good as Palhares is on the ground, and as bright as his future in the sport is, this is Marquardt’s fight to lose. On the feet, Marquardt is light years ahead of Palhares. On the ground Palhares has the edge, but Marquardt is good enough and savvy enough that he probably won’t get caught from top position. The only way Palhares can win this fight is by forcing Marquardt to the mat and gaining top position, but that seems like a very unlikely scenario. More likely Marquardt will bruise Palhares up on the feet before ultimately finishing him. Marquardt by T/KO.
Prediction: Nate “The Great” Marquardt via second round T/KO.
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