Nate Marquardt
A welterweight bout between Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt (31-10-2) and Tyron ‘T-Wood’ Woodley (10-0) is expected to take place this July with the two fighters competing for the vacant Strikeforce welterweight title.
MMAWeekly.com is reporting that the two fighters will meet in the main event of the yet-to-be announced Strikeforce show, which could take place on July 14. No location was identified by the website.
This bout will mark the debut of Marquardt under the Strikeforce banner, as well as his first match at 170-lbs after a failed attempt last June at UFC on Versus 4. Marquardt was pulled from the card on weigh-in day after testing positive for elevated levels of testosterone. He was subsequently cut from the UFC.
Marquardt then signed with BAMMA, and had been scheduled to debut twice under their banner, but both fights never materialized and he was released from contract. ‘The Great’ was then signed by Strikeforce and carries a 2-1 record in his last three into the cage with him, with a decision win over Dan Miller in his last fight at UFC 128.
Woodley is undefeated in his three year career and has won eight straight under the Strikeforce banner. His last win came in January where ‘T-Wood’ earned a split decision over Jordan Mein at the Rockhold vs. Jardine event in Las Vegas. Woodley’s previous victory was by decision and it came against Paul Daley at last July’s Fedor vs. Henderson show.