By Elliot Worsell,
UFC.com
Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt isn’t superstitious and he doesn’t believe in luck. When you’re 30-8-2 and a former UFC title challenger, luck is something you discarded long ago. Besides, Marquardt feels luck is for the inferior man.
So when you ask the Denver favourite whether he’ll strike it third time lucky against a Brazilian at UFC 95, you know what answer to expect.
“Nah, I don’t think luck will have anything to do with it,” says Marquardt, of his fight with Wilson Gouveia in London on February 21st. “I think I’m going to win and luck won’t be needed for this fight.”
The question was asked due to the fact that Marquardt, one of the leading middleweight contenders in the UFC, has recently hit the proverbial wall when up against Brazilians. The only two losses in his eight UFC bouts have come at the hands of Brazilians, namely Anderson Silva and Thales Leites. Not bad Brazilians to lose to, one must hasten to add. Marquardt was swamped by Silva in the first-round and unlucky to lose a foul-ridden three-rounder to Leites.
Conquerors of ‘The Great One’, Silva and Leites now square off in April at UFC 97 to decide the middleweight championship. Marquardt will be a keen observer.
“Whichever guy gets their game plan right will be the one that wins,” assesses Nate. “Obviously Thales wants to get it down to the ground, but if Thales can use his footwork and his defence and seize the opportunities to take Anderson down without rushing in, he could have a chance.
“He mustn’t rush in and take Anderson down, though. That way he’ll just walk into a load of punishment. He’s definitely got a chance once things get to the ground. Thales is a lot stronger on the ground than Anderson and technically a lot better.”
Having shared Octagon time with both Brazilians, Marquardt is better positioned than most to break down their impending middleweight title fight. Despite claiming Leites would be better suited to take things south with Silva, Nate knows only too well how dangerous Leites can be with his fists. Back in June at London’s The O2, Marquardt had to drag himself up off the floor following a Leites right hand.
“Thales has a really long reach,” he continues. “He may even have a longer reach than Anderson. So although I think his best shot is on the ground, Thales can also hold his own on his feet. He’ll be at disadvantage, for sure, but I definitely give Thales a shot wherever the fight goes.”
Marquardt’s interest in their April 18 dust-up extends beyond the mere fact he can call himself a common opponent. Marquardt would love nothing more than to fight the winner – preferably Silva.
“Oh, definitely,” enthuses Nate. “That’s my goal right now. I want that rematch with Anderson. I know I can do better than I did first time round, and I’ve improved a lot since our first meeting. I now know I can beat him.”
In July 2007, Marquardt attempted to beat Silva and quickly realised it was a job easier said than done. Stopped with only seconds to go in the first round, Marquardt cut a bewildered and, ultimately, overwhelmed figure. Thoughts of a rematch were a long way from his mind back then.
“I gave him way too much respect and fell away from my own game plan,” explains Marquardt. “That’s not to take anything away from Anderson, though. He’s a great fighter and it would be a tough fight either way.”
Before Marquardt can even begin dreaming of sharing Octagon space with Silva again, the Colorado resident must first derail the title intentions of another Brazilian, Wilson Gouveia. Whilst not possessing the seek-and-destroy aura of Silva, Gouveia is a capable middleweight with dangerous striking and a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
“I’m really excited to be fighting Wilson,” says Marquardt, a fellow black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. “I’m excited to be fighting in London and also to be co-main event. It sounds like they’re really hyping the fight out there.
“I’m definitely excited to get back in there.”
Hard pressed to find any weaknesses in his own varied arsenal, Marquardt is confident of his chances against the equally versatile Gouveia.
“I definitely match up well with Wilson,” admits Nate. “I feel that I’ll be technically better than him in all areas and will also be quicker and stronger than him. He’s a very tough guy, but I feel as though I hold all the advantages. He’ll probably come on real strong in that first round, but I’ll just have to make sure I also come out at 100% in the first round. From there, the fight will be mine.
“There’s not one area of his game that I’d say I’m afraid of or am not going to fight him at. I’m happy to fight him on our feet and on the ground. I’m anticipating him looking to keep the fight standing. I’m pretty sure he’ll want to try and strike. If he takes me down he’ll be in trouble. I’m ready for anything, though. I really don’t mind where it goes. This is definitely going to be a great fight. I’m going to be looking to knock him out and he’ll be hoping to do the same to me.”
Now well-versed at dealing with the various styles of Brazilian mixed martial artists, Marquardt hopes to be in a better position at The O2 on February 21st than he was last June, when dropping a frustrating decision to Leites. As far as similarities go, a Brazilian opponent in London is about where it begins and stops.
“They’re different,” says Marquardt, of similarities between Gouveia and former foe Leites. “I think Gouveia’s stand-up is a little better, but he’s not going to be as big or as strong on the ground as Thales. Everybody is different and everybody has their own strengths.”
Marquardt’s main strength appears to be his ability to run through the middleweight division before walking into the vicious strikes of champion Silva. Ask anyone and they’ll tell you Marquardt is as good as any other middleweight out there not born in Curitiba, Brazil and nicknamed ‘The Spider’.
Marquardt’s first-round demolition of the highly-touted Martin Kampmann last September merely emphasised the fact.
“I didn’t necessarily expect to beat him that quickly, but I definitely thought I was going to beat him,” recalls Marquardt. “I knew I had the style to beat Kampmann and I had a feeling it would be done in impressive fashion. I have a lot of belief in my abilities, my training partners and my coaches. When we get things right, the results are usually great.
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“Kampmann had beaten Thales and was a good name on the rise. A few people were taking about him. It was good to beat someone like that in impressive fashion. I think it made a bit of a statement.”
It’s all about making statements from this point on for Marquardt. Already considered a veteran of the mixed martial arts scene at only 29 years of age, Marquardt is prepared to travel anywhere and beat anyone to further his climb up the middleweight ladder. If he’s told to pack his bags and face a Brazilian in London, he’s there. It’s all part of the bigger plan.
“The fans were great in London last time,” says Marquardt, recalling his last stop to England in June. “Everybody over there treated us well. We love it over there and I’m excited to go back there. Obviously, when you fight at home it’s easier because you’re used to the surroundings and don’t have to deal with any jet lag. It doesn’t bother me to fight overseas, though. I’m kind of used to it and like travelling around a lot.”
A natural jet setter, Marquardt is looking to add more consistency and stability to his fighting form. There will be less recklessness against Gouveia on February 21st. He won’t take the chances he did with Leites at the same arena in June.
There’s too much at stake now.
“I want to fight Anderson for the title,” he reiterates. “I want to rematch him. I don’t want to have to fight someone else for the belt. Thales could win in April, and it would be nice to rematch him, but it would be even nicer to fight Anderson again. I’d really like that.
“A title shot has always been my aim. I don’t want to force it too early, but I’m ready whenever and wherever it happens.”
Marquardt will travel all around the world to locate that elusive middleweight title belt. One thing’s for sure – whomever it is holding that belt, judging by Marquardt’s past luck, it’ll no doubt be a Brazilian.
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