Nate Marquardt is finally making his return to MMA. After being released by the UFC last June, Marquardt was set to return to action with England’s BAMMA organization. However, after multiple delays, Marquardt was released from the organization. Now he is set to return to Zuffa, but this time under the Strikeforce banner.
Marquardt was released last June just hours before he was set to make his welterweight debut at UFC on Versus 4 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Marquardt was unable to gain clearance to fight due to his hormone replacement therapy use. After the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission announced the decision, UFC President Dana White released Marquardt from the organization.
He last fought at UFC 128 in March 2011, defeating Dan Miller via unanimous decision.
The veteran of 14 UFC fights, Marquardt debuted for the organization at Ultimate Fight Night in August 2005. His UFC career got off to a rocky start, with Marquardt testing positive for nandrolone, an anabolic steroid, following his debut. But he never failed another drug test following his first issue, and did not run into any problems until his release from the UFC.
Marquardt is expected to make his Strikeforce debut against Tyron Woodley, with the matchup expected to be for the currently vacant Strikeforce welterweight championship.
