It can't be fun to be Nate Marquardt's leg this Sunday morning (Jan. 13, 2012).
Just hours ago in the main event of the final Strikeforce show at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Okla., Marquardt was on the receiving end of a five-round shellacking from Tarec Saffiedine that included one vicious leg kick after another for the entire 25-minute affair.
The technique was the difference maker for Saffiedine in the fight, as he immobilized Marquardt, taking away the speed and explosiveness of "The Great" with a relentless onslaught around the knee area.
The three judges sitting cage side all scored the fight in Saffiedine's favor, earning him the Strikeforce welterweight champion and a likely invitation to the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
Marquardt had a tremendous amount of momentum coming into Saturday's event, so it's hard to say what's hurting him more one day removed from the fight - his ego or his left leg.
It may not be as bad as Urijah Faber post-Jose Aldo, but Marquardt's leg is pretty gruesome.
For complete results and blow-by-blow coverage of Strikeforce: "Marquardt vs. Saffiedine" click here.