UFC Middleweight Bout: James Te Huna vs. Nate Marquardt
Odds: (-225 Te Huna / +175 Marquardt )
Betting Pick: Te Huna
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In the main event of UFC Fight Night 43, Nate “The Great” Marquardt will look to halt his three-fight skid in a featured Middleweight showdown against James Te Huna. With both of these guys coming off multiple losses in an increasingly crowded UFC Middleweight division, a win here is vital if they want to guarantee their future employment. Despite their recent poor results, both of these guys are dynamic and effective fighters who should put on a competitive and entertaining main event.
Nate “The Great’ Marquardt was once one of UFC’s most formidable Middleweights, but his career has been on a marked decline for the last few years. He’s lost his last three fights and is coming off two straight ugly knockouts. Clearly, his chin is a weakness, and one that Te Huna is more than capable of exploiting. Marquardt has good boxing and footwork, and he’s going to need them to keep himself out of trouble. I don’t think this is a fight that he is likely to finish, so if he’s smart, he will fight for points and try to clinch and control the action.
James Te Huna is making his debut at 185 pounds after getting finished in his last two fights at Light Heavyweight. Te Huna is something of a one-dimensional striker with good punching power but suspect grappling and submission defense. Against Marquardt, he will definitely be the better and more powerful striker. The question is whether dropping down a division will give him the size and strength advantage he needs to nullify Marquardt’s superior grappling technique.
Ultimately, I like Te Huna’s chances here. He’s the better striker, and I think Marquardt, who isn’t the world’s most dominant wrestler, is going to have a hard time taking him down if things go poorly in the standup. I expect some back and forth action, but eventually I think Te Huna will catch Marquardt with a big punch to ensure a successful Middleweight debut. Te Huna by T/KO.
Prediction: James Te Huna by second round T/KO.
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