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By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief
Nate Marquardt wasn't kidding about making the move to welterweight, and it's coming a lot quicker than was probably expected.
According to a report from MMAJunkie.com, Marquardt will make the move for a June 26 bout with Anthony "Rumble" Johnson.
That fight will serve as the main event for UFC on Versus 4, coming to the Consol Energy Center in Pittsburgh, Penn., the UFC's first ever event in the city of Pittsburgh.
Marquardt ends his time in the middleweight division after a win over Dan Miller at UFC 128 last month. The decision win was a good rebound from his loss to Yushin Okami in a number one contender's bout in November of last year, and now he'll look to forge ahead through the 170 lb. division.
Johnson will make a quick turnaround after returning in March from a 16 month injury layoff. After missing all of 2010, Johnson got back on track with a one-sided decision win over Dan Hardy at UFC Fight Night 24, and will have a chance to make a big move up the 170 lb. ladder with a win over someone on Marquardt's level.
Penick's Analysis: I absolutely love this fight, especially with it coming to free television. Marquardt has had some issues in his last several fights with wrestlers putting him on his back in Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami, and though that's certainly a weapon in Johnson's article, there's not going to be a huge strength disparity between the two and I don't think Johnson will be able to keep him grounded and flustered for three rounds. If the cut goes well, for both fighters, this should be an excellent, excellent welterweight fight. This card needed a good headlining fight, and it's got one now.
UPDATE: The UFC has confirmed that this fight will headline the June 26 card, and UFC President Dana White has commented on the bout.
"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,” White said. “Both of these guys are powerful strikers and grapplers and it should be a great fight."
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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