UFC Fight Night 22: Nate Marquardt vs Rousimar Palhares moved to Sept. 15 main event with Alan Belcher hurt

by Jesse Holland on Aug 3, 2010 8:43 AM EDT

Top ranked middleweight contender Nate Marquardt (29-9-2) will be facing muscular submission master Rousimar Palhares (11-2) -- albeit a little later than expected -- now that the promotion has booked them to headline UFC Fight Night 22 on Sept. 15.

Originally scheduled for UFC 118: "Edgar vs. Penn 2" on Aug. 28 in Boston, the 185-pound contest will now replace the Fight Night 22 main event between Alan Belcher and Demian Maia after "The Talent" was forced off the card due to injury.

Sources close to one of the fight camps alerted MMAmania.com to the unexpected change late last night.

"The Great" is coming off a "Relentless" beat down at the hands of now number one middleweight contender Chael Sonnen at UFC 109 back in February. Many people pegged the fight as an easy win for Marquardt, but Mr. Sonnen showed us all yet again what good 'ole American wrestling can do for you in this sport.

Prior to the Sonnen defeat, Nate had won three consecutive fights inside the Octagon, including a 21-second dismantling of Demian Maia at UFC 102. That win propelled Marquardt back to the top of the division, but another title shot was just not meant to be at the moment.

Palhares is coming off a controversial submission win over Tomasz Drwal at UFC 111 back on March 27, failing to break the heel hook submission he applied in the first round in a timely fashion. The "Gorilla" tapped to no avail and referee Kevin Mulhall had to physically intervene upon calling the fight.

"Toquinho" later apologized for the hiccup, insisting there was no harm intended, but the NJSACB wasn't impressed with his post-fight apology and slapped him with a 90-day suspension.

He'll now look to redeem himself against perhaps his stiffest test to date (sans Dan Henderson) later this summer.

For the new and improved UFC Fight Night 22 line-up click here.

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Comments

Man, Palhares is like a fucking bulldog.

Can’t wait for this fight.
I know Nate has a pretty good groundgame, but he needs to keep this standing if he want to win; the second this hits the floor, his chances drop dramatically.
I’m picking Nate though. Decision.

Arlovski : Kang : GSP : Rampage : Lytle : Huerta : Quarry : Serra : Wandy : Pulver : Alvarez

by ArlovsKang on Aug 3, 2010 8:48 AM EDT reply actions

Im also picking Marquardt

I think he’ll win a decision similar to Hendos

by Lester The Pimp on Aug 3, 2010 8:57 AM EDT up reply actions

I agree

by attakdog on Aug 3, 2010 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions

lol awesome pic

marquardt is a beast but palhares has good take downs. i just can’t decide who will win!

Please don't ever let Carwin fight Big Nog! It would result in death

Can't decide who I hate more, Penn or Edgar

by ufcaddict on Aug 3, 2010 10:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I can't decide on this one.

I really like both guys and think it could go either way.
If I had to pick someone though I’d go with Nate, I reckon he’ll feel like he has something to prove after his poor showing against Sonnen and take a hard-fought decision.

by Perksy on Aug 3, 2010 9:06 AM EDT up reply actions

im takin palhares

i can see him closing the gap and using that power to get nate down an then thats it HEEL HOOK TIME!

'Yes' - Anderson Silva

by Rampagelangford on Aug 3, 2010 9:01 AM EDT reply actions

i still have a sour taste in my mouth from paul harris's leg lock ordeal

And therfore, want to see him in pain…call me bitter but I know there’s other maniacs out there who are still a bit upset by that as well

Activia; now with bullshitifus ridicularus

by salamagogo on Aug 3, 2010 9:04 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

I am starting to question Marquardt now though.

Palhares held onto one sub too long, but this may be a contest to see who plays dirtier. I think if things aren’t going his way, Nate may look for illegal ways to hurt his opponent. In the Sonnen fight, the one time he had position he was thinking about that illegal knee on the ground. I wondered what he was thinking as it happened because there was no question about it’s illegality and it reminded me of his piledriver in the Leites fight (and pure coincidence Lester posted that pic here). I may be reading too much into it and I like Nate. He always seems humble and respectful towards his opponent but I am starting to wonder. As they say, actions speak louder… ANS could probably squash this quickly as a character reference.

by Mayhem chimpanzee on Aug 3, 2010 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions

WAAARRR HEEL HOOOK!!

Conan : You are known as a striker. Is that correct? Tell me what that means.
Chuck : Well I like to punch people, or kick them.

by DAFTMANIA on Aug 3, 2010 9:10 AM EDT reply actions

I'm picking Nate.

to save humanity! Palhares is a real roid monkey and he’s so full of the roids/hgh and u name it that he’s got no idea of where he’s at + he’s a real dirty/nasty sub fighter who goes after heels and knees.. I wanna see him devastated and retired, literally killed almost !

your mother !

by RoBerto. on Aug 3, 2010 9:10 AM EDT reply actions