In a recent interview to the Las Vegas Sun, UFC Middleweight, Nate Marquardt expressed his feelings about steroid usage amongst opponents he may face in the Octagon.
My thinking is, it doesn’t matter if the guy I’m fighting is on steroids,” Marquardt said. “I don’t care about that. I should be able to beat him either way. I feel like I can fight someone on steroids and still have them at a disadvantage. If you’re a true athlete, the best way is to be natural. Anything you get from steroids you’re trading off somewhere else, whether it’s your cardio or longevity in the sport. You need all those things.
Marquardt recently made MMA news headlines for defending Chael Sonnen’s postitive test for PED’s by saying he is owed the benefit of the doubt. Marquardt met Sonnen in the cage and lost via Unanimous Decision at UFC 109 earlier this year. The loss cost him the title-shot which went to Sonnen. Sonnen then popped positive after what many viewed as an impressive performance against UFC Middleweight Champion, Anderson Silva though Sonnen ultimately lost via triangle armbar. Nate Marquardt went on to earn a TKO victory over Rousimar Palhares and will now face Yushin Okami in a headlining event at UFC 122 in Oberhaussen, Germany this November 13th. The winner of this fight is expected to receive the next shot at the Middleweight title.