Nate Marquardt has had a very successful MMA career. He is a three-time Pancrase Middleweight Champion, which included a total of four title defenses. After only four fights in the UFC, he challenged Anderson Silva for the UFC Middleweight Championship, losing via TKO in the first round. Since that fight, he has worked his way into two No. 1 contender fights, losing both by decision.
He has now dropped down to the welterweight division and was slated to face Anthony Johnson, but due to injury Johnson withdrew and in stepped Rick Story.
This will be a battle of the wrestlers. Story is coming off of a huge win against title challenger Thiago Alves. Story is on the rise, but it is now Nate’s job to derail Story off of his route towards a shot for the welterweight championship.
Throughout Nate’s career, big fights have been his kryptonite. He held titles in Pancrase, and yes that is a great accomplishment but when put in the big show is where he couldn’t succeed. He has now opened up a new door by dropping to welterweight. This is his last chance at a title run in a realistic aspect, and odds are his drop is a sign that GSP will be moving up in weight or be retiring by the time he gets to a title shot (not a guarantee, just an assumption).
What must Nate hope for in order to obtain a title shot?
Odds are Nate will need to win between two and three fights to be granted a shot at the champion. Beating Story automatically places him top seven, but after that who would they put him against? Jake Shields, Jon Fitch, or BJ Penn come to mind.
Nate needs an easy path, and sadly for him the division is stacked with wrestlers which have always been his achilles heel in MMA.
Can Nate become champion at welterweight? It’s MMA anything is possible, but fighting guys like Fitch, Koscheck, Penn, Shields, etc. is not an easy task. He is going to have to get his mind right in order to be able to obtain his goal.
The odds in him being able to retire and have the claim as a UFC champion are literally slim to none. He has tons of talent, but wrestlers and elite guys are his weakness. He could prove people wrong and run the table, but if he doesn’t get his mind right then count him out.
Rick Story is the first test. Story has the momentum on his side and he will have to throw everything except the kitchen sink at him to win this fight. Expect a war and an overall great card Sunday night live on Versus.
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