• UFC Live

Marquardt drops to 170 for huge Rumble with Johnson

ESPN staff
April 14, 2011
Nate Marquardt defeated Dan Miller in his last outing © Getty Images
Enlarge

The UFC has announced a huge welterweight main event for UFC Live on June 26, with Nate Marquardt making his 170lb debut against Anthony Johnson.

A long time title contender in the middleweight division, Marquardt has found his road to the 185lb belt blocked in recent times by losses to Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami. He was also well beaten by champion Anderson Silva at UFC 73.

Marquardt's drop to welterweight will breathe life into division that has been in danger of becoming stagnant, with Georges St-Pierre running out of worthy challengers to his crown if he defeats Jake Shields at UFC 129. Nate the Great will make a huge 170-pounder, and he will face the biggest on June 26 when he takes on Anthony Johnson.

"Anthony Johnson has always been one of the largest welterweights in the UFC but now former top middleweight contender Nate Marquardt will drop down and attempt a run at the welterweight title," said UFC president Dana White.

"Both of these guys are powerful strikers and grapplers and it should be a great fight."

It remains to be seen whether Marquardt would be willing to fight team-mate St-Pierre if he was to earn a welterweight title shot in the future.

UFC Live will also feature a heavyweight clash between Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo, and a welterweight encounter between Martin Kampmann and John Howard.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices