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"From what I understand, if I win this fight [against Sonnen], I will get the shot... I think [Vitor Belfort’s] a great fighter. I don't necessarily agree with him getting a shot or whatever, just because he really hasn’t fought at 85. His first fight in the UFC was at 95, but to be honest it doesn't really matter too much to me because I've got a good fight coming up and to me I'm going to have to fight all those guys anyways, so it doesn't really matter."
-Nate Marquardt talks to MMAWeekly.com about Vitor Belfort leapfrogging him for a shot at Anderson Silva and expecting a shot of his own with a win over Chael Sonnen at UFC 109.
Penick's Analysis: Marquardt absolutely should earn his rematch with Silva if he gets past Chael Sonnen on February 6th. After losing in his only UFC Title fight to Silva, Marquardt has become a much different fighter, and has improved vastly from where he was at that point in his career. Silva has already referred to Marquardt as his successor in the middleweight division, and whether Marquardt can earn that distinction or take it by default remains to be seen. But, should he get past what is absolutely a tough fight in Sonnen, there should be nothing left for Silva and Ed Soares to complain about as far as him earning a rematch. He'll be the clear number one contender in the UFC's middleweight division with a victory, and no one remaining under contract will be able to lay claim to that spot.
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"There's still a large contingent of people, that they just want to see these guys almost die, or the other guy almost die and come back, and sometimes fights are like that. Certainly they are. But sometimes you get technical masterpieces too, and to hate a beautiful, technical fight - you're not really a fight fan...
Diaz has a granite chin, possesses perhaps the best recovery in the sport, his pace and conditioning are second to none and he sets records with the volume of his punches almost every time he steps into the cage. Nick Diaz is simply designed to fight the way he fights, and not many other fighters are...
"There was a lot of poison going on around there and I'm really disappointed because we had a good thing going. It was a good thing and I think people's egos got in the way. Well, not people just Javier, his ego got in the way, and too many cameras in the gym and him trying to build himself up and his brand, his AKA brand...
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