Tag: Nate Marquardt

Tidbit of the Day: Karo Parisyan Offered to Step in for Nate Marquardt


(Irony, how does it work? PicProps MMAJunkie)

CagePotato.com has learned that former UFC welterweight contender Karo “The Heat” Parisyan contacted the UFC to offer to step in for Nate Marquardt to face Rick Story on last night’s UFC Live on Versus 4 card.

According to a source close to Parisyan, the Armenian Judoka texted UFC president Dana White moments after the news broke that Marquardt was unable to compete on the card because he not met the medical testing requirements of the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission and would immediately be let go from the remainder of his Zuffa contract as a result, to let him know that he was in shape, his medicals were up to date and he could make the 170-pound welterweight limit in about in an hour or two. White, who chose instead to give Charlie Brenneman the fight, simply texted back, “:).”


(Irony, how does it work? PicProps MMAJunkie)

CagePotato.com has learned that former UFC welterweight contender Karo “The Heat” Parisyan contacted the UFC to offer to step in for Nate Marquardt to face Rick Story on last night’s UFC Live on Versus 4 card.

According to a source close to Parisyan, the Armenian Judoka texted UFC president Dana White moments after the news broke that Marquardt was unable to compete on the card because he not met the medical testing requirements of the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission and would immediately be let go from the remainder of his Zuffa contract as a result, to let him know that he was in shape, his medicals were up to date and he could make the 170-pound welterweight limit in about in an hour or two. White, who chose instead to give Charlie Brenneman the fight, simply texted back, “:).”

Much like Marquardt, Parisyan, who was dropped by the UFC for the second time following an uninspired loss to Dennis Hallman at UFC 123 in November, was released by the promotion the first time for bowing out of his main card bout with Dustin Hazelett at UFC 106 one year earlier. The fight was his first one back from a nine-month suspension he received as a result of a positive test for painkillers following his UFC 94 win over Dong Hyun Kim, which was later changed to a “no contest.’ He cited his long-running battle with anxiety for pulling out of the fight with Hazelett, but says the condition is now under control.

In his first bout since the Hallman fight, Karo lost a disappointing hard-fought battle against highly-touted Canadian Ryan “The Real Deal” Ford by TKO due to a doctor’s stoppage because of a cut that was opened by a well-timed knee by Ford. In spite of the protests of “The Heat” and his corner to let the fight (which most believe he was winning) continue, the ringside physician would not give in. He has called for a rematch, but Ford has gone on record saying that it will only happen if, “Karo gets a couple of wins first.”

According to the source we spoke to, Parisyan told White he would do whatever it takes to earn his way back to the Octagon, whether it’s winning a bunch of fights against UFC prospects or veterans or availing himself to step in on short notice if the UFC needs a fill-in. This is a good sign that Karo has turned the corner and is on his way back up his self-described, “steep climb back to the top.”

Marquardt is scheduled to appear on The MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani to give his side of what went wrong in Pittsburgh this weekend. Rumors are swirling that the former UFC middleweight who was already within the weight requirement for his UFC welterweight debut admitted on his athlete screening form that he had used a testosterone replacement cream, but could not come up with a doctor’s explanation as to why the substance was prescribed. He was allegedly given a specified amount of time to produce the document, but failed to do so prior to the weigh-ins. We’ll all (partially) know what really happened tomorrow.

White has gone on record that Marquardt will have to be a man and admit what he did, which makes you think it was something sinister or shady, but that could be Dana’s initial anger talking again.

-MR-

Cheick Kongo Makes Comeback in More Ways Than One: Why He Needed That Win

Cheick Kongo Makes Comeback in More Ways Than One: Why He Needed That WinBleacher Report’s Blake Dresibach:Fans were expecting an even better stand-up war when former kickboxers Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry were promoted from co-main event to the ma…

Cheick Kongo Makes Comeback in More Ways Than One: Why He Needed That Win

Bleacher Report’s Blake Dresibach:

Fans were expecting an even better stand-up war when former kickboxers Cheick Kongo and Pat Barry were promoted from co-main event to the main event of UFC Live on Verus 4.

They got that and more after Kongo came back from being knocked down twice to land his own devastating right hand to put Barry to sleep, all under three minutes.

Kongo entered the bout with a lot of pressure to perform, and he was forced to be better than ever in the first UFC main event of his 10-year professional career.

He might have been one punch away from losing all credibility in the division, but he was also one punch away from saving it.

This is why we love the sport and why Kongo made a comeback in more ways than one.

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UFC on Versus 4 Results: Cheick Kongo Saves the Day, but Still a Gatekeeper

UFC on Versus 4 Results: Cheick Kongo Saves the Day, but Still a GatekeeperBleacher Report’s Scott Harris:Cheick Kongo to the rescue.In a single flash of leather, a fight card plagued with problems got a lot better Sunday night when a wounded and wob…

UFC on Versus 4 Results: Cheick Kongo Saves the Day, but Still a Gatekeeper

Bleacher Report’s Scott Harris:

Cheick Kongo to the rescue.

In a single flash of leather, a fight card plagued with problems got a lot better Sunday night when a wounded and wobbly Kongo knocked out Pat Barry in the first round to put a sudden and surprising exclamation point on UFC on Versus 4 in Pittsburgh.

You can tell a lot about the event by its name, which was originally UFC Live: Johnson vs. Marquardt, but after an injury to Anthony Johnson changed to UFC Live: Story vs. Marquardt. Then, just days before the event, Nate Marquardt mysteriously failed to gain medical clearance and was released from the UFC.

Matt Riddle and T.J. Grant also left the card due to injury and illness, respectively.

Nothing a stiff right uppercut can’t fix.

The actual card did provide plenty of excitement, but was marred somewhat by questionable officiating. Perhaps that backdrop made Kongo’s success all the sweeter, as alert referee Dan Miragliotta nearly stopped the fight on two occasions after Barry rocked Kongo and dropped him to the ground, but refrained after determining—correctly—that Kongo was still fighting and defending himself.

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UFC on Versus 4: Cheick Kongo’s Knockout and the 7 Biggest Comebacks of 2010-11

UFC on Versus 4: Cheick Kongo’s Knockout and the 7 Biggest Comebacks of 2010-11Bleacher Report’s Leon Horne:After sitting down to watch UFC on Versus 4: Marquardt vs. Story, actually Kongo vs. Barry, I have to say fans everywhere would be hard p…

UFC on Versus 4: Cheick Kongo’s Knockout and the 7 Biggest Comebacks of 2010-11

Bleacher Report’s Leon Horne:

After sitting down to watch UFC on Versus 4: Marquardt vs. Story, actually Kongo vs. Barry, I have to say fans everywhere would be hard pressed to say this free event was a dud especially with the way the main event played out.

Originally Nate Marquardt was slated to headline the card against Rick Story, however, that plan was scrapped on Saturday when Marquardt failed to receive medical clearance from the athletic commission.

In all honesty, the event looked like it had lost all momentum.

UFC On Versus 5: Burning Questions Heading into the Event

To an extent, there were some lulls in the action tonight particularly in the John Howard vs. Matt Brown fight and at certain points during the co-main event featuring Rick Story and Charlie Brenneman.

Then enter the two heavyweights Cheick Kongo vs. Pat Barry, the finish that ensued in this fight was for the ages and a look back at some of the best comebacks fans were privy to over 2010-2011 seems fitting after tonight’s fight.

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Pennsylvania Commission Confirms Nate Marquardt Did Not Fail Drug Test

Filed under: UFC, MMA Fighting Exclusive, NewsNate Marquardt remains on suspension from the state of Pennsylvania after failing to receive medical clearance prior to the weekend’s UFC on Versus event. In the aftermath of the shocking development, which…

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Nate Marquardt remains on suspension from the state of Pennsylvania after failing to receive medical clearance prior to the weekend’s UFC on Versus event. In the aftermath of the shocking development, which included Marquardt’s firing from the promotion, many questions have arisen.

Which part of the medical review did Marquardt fail to clear? How did six weeks go by without a resolution? And how did Pennsylvania suspend Marquardt when it appeared he’d never been licensed in the first place?

While most of the situation is still shrouded in mystery, at least one of those questions can be answered.

Gregory Sirb, the executive director of the state’s athletic commission told MMA Fighting on Monday that Marquardt had indeed been granted a license to fight, pending medical clearance.

“He was licensed. He completed all his paperwork for licensing probably a week before,” Sirb said.

But Sirb said that regardless of whether or not the license had been granted, Marquardt would have faced the same possible outcome for failing to clear his medical issue.

“He knew full well what the ramifications were, whether licensed or not,” Sirb said. Sirb told reporters on Sunday that Marquardt had six weeks to resolve an outstanding issue, but would not divulge what it was. Neither would UFC president Dana White. Sirb has also said that Marquardt will be taken off suspension once he clears the issue.

According to the commission’s website, while in the course of applying for a license, a professional fighter must provide a negative HIV, Hepatits C and Hepatitis B surface antigen exam. They must also provide the results of an annual medical exam. That exam is wide-ranging and covers potential issues related to vision, lungs, heart rate, the nervous system, coordination and more that could disqualify a fighter from competition. In addition, there is language in the regulations that offers the commission the latitude to request other exams. The stated medical requirements are similar to those of other states, including fight hubs Nevada and New Jersey.

All of the aforementioned test results are considered the fighter’s private medical information and kept confidential under federal HIPAA laws. Federal or Pennsylvania state law does not, however, prohibit disclosure of a positive drug test result, nor the type of drug which led to a confirmed positive test.

Sirb confirmed that if Marquardt had failed a drug test, the commission would have released those findings.

“I’ve been here 22 years and we do not embarrass anybody,” he said. “But we would have said, ‘drug test.'”

To date, Marquardt and his team have said little regarding the situation. On Saturday, his team released a statement to MMA Fighting which read, “I was looking forward to my welterweight debut. I’m sorry I let everyone down.” On Sunday, he tweeted, “I’m sorry to all my fans and the UFC for not passing the medicals for tonight’s fight. I’m heart broken I couldn’t fight, but I will b (sic) back.”

Marquardt is expected to make his first extended statements about the matter on Tuesday’s edition of The MMA Hour, which airs at 1 pm on MMAFighting.com.

 

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UFC on Versus 4 Results: Charlie Brenneman Outworks Rick Story

UFC on Versus 4 Results: Charlie Brenneman Outworks Rick StoryBleacher Report’s Leon Horne:Nate Marquardt being pulled from his fight with Rick Story for failing to obtain medical clearance was the worst case scenario for Story. Charlie Brenneman ste…

UFC on Versus 4 Results: Charlie Brenneman Outworks Rick Story

Bleacher Report’s Leon Horne:

Nate Marquardt being pulled from his fight with Rick Story for failing to obtain medical clearance was the worst case scenario for Story. Charlie Brenneman stepped in for Marquardt and took full advantage of the opportunity that was given to him.

For Story, a win over Marquardt would have meant the world to him and a loss would have set him back a little bit, but the fact that he took the fight on less than a month’s notice and that Marquardt was a No. 1 contender in the next weight class up, it wouldn’t have been the end of the world.

Losing to Brenneman, who took the fight on less than a day’s notice, is devastating to Story’s momentum.

UFC On Versus 5: Burning Questions Heading into the Event

The problem Story had with Brenneman was with his wrestling. Normally Story has been able to out-wrestle his opponents, but Brenneman had his number in that part of the game tonight.

Story was on his back for every round of the three-round affair, and despite a few submission attempts, he was simply outworked by the Pittsburgh native.

Of course this was Story’s second fight in less than a month and an opponent change at the last minute can play mind games even on the mentally toughest fighters in the UFC.

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