(photo by Getty Images via UFC.com)
Only a few days removed from his recent victory over former UFC welterweight contender Thiago ‘Pitbull’ Alves at UFC 130, Rick ‘The Horror’ Story (13-3) jumped at the chance to welcome Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt to the 170 lb division.
Story replaces an injured Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson and will meet Marquardt in the headline bout for the UFC Live: Marquardt vs. Story (aka UFC on Versus 4) event, which takes place later this month on June 26 at the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
‘The Horror’ Story has win six straight fights, all under the UFC banner, earning a unanimous decision over Thiago Alves at UFC 130 last month. Story called out John Fitch next, but was turned down by the fighter, and will now fight Marquardt in under a month from his last win.
Speaking to MMAWeekly.com, Story explained his reasons for taking on an opponent like Marquardt on short notice.
“I like fighting really consecutive (fights). I don’t like taking long layoffs. When I (was first) a professional fighter, for the the first year or so, I had a bunch of fights; I had, like, a fight every month and I loved it because I never got out of shape and I was always learning. When you get out of shape, you’re just struggling to catch your breath and you can’t be in your perfect form all the time. But when you’re in shape, your’e in perfect form over, over and over. And you get those reps in and you get really good real quick. I like getting better quick and I like staying in shape…”
“Based on his performances, I’d say that’s a fair assessment because you’re only as good as your last performances. (If) you have a couple bad performances against the top guys, that solidifies your spot (until) you decide to do something and break through and prove everyone wrong.”