Another MMA retirement has fallen by the wayside.
Despite announcing his retirement from MMA in 2017, Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt is returning to the cage. The 42 year old has signed with Titan FC.
Marquardt is expected to fight at an event on August 6. Marquardt revealed news of his un-retirement in the cage at Titan FC 70 on Friday night. During that segment he said that getting back into pro fisticuffs is linked to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“Honestly, I’ve been sent here to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and He’s the only way to be saved and our nation is in desperate need right now to turn back to the Lord,” said Marquardt (ht MMA Fighting). “I believe that’s the message God has for me and I’m really excited to fight again.”
Titan have not announced an opponent for Marquardt or revealed what weight class he will compete in.
Marquardt’s first pro fight was in 1999. After a championship tenure in Pancrase Marquardt signed with the UFC in 2005, beating Ivan Salaverry in his debut. Marquardt won his next three UFC contests to earn a title shot at Anderson Silva at UFC 73 in 2007.
Marquardt lost that bout via first round TKO. After the loss Marquardt went 4-1 to set up a title eliminator match-up with Chael Sonnen at UFC 109 in 2010. He lost that bout by unanimous decision.
Two years later Marquardt joined Strikeforce. His debut for that organization was a KO win over Tyron Woodley to win the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title. He lost the belt to Tarec Saffiedine in his next fight, on the last ever Strikeforce card on January 12, 2013.
After Strikeforce was absorbed by the UFC, Marquardt continued to fight in the Octagon for another four years. Over that span he went 3-8 with wins over James Te-Huna, C.B. Dolloway and Tamden McCrory.
His last fight was a split decision loss to Cezar Ferreira at UFC Norfolk in 2017.