Nate looks great, is he next in line for ‘The Spider’?
Wilson Gouveia had been reborn at middleweight since a 2008 drop from light heavyweight. His mix of kicks and good counterpunching had him climbing the ladder at 185 pounds. The next rung on the ladder broke at UFC 95 and Gouveia fell badly against Nate "The Great" Marquardt. Marquardt was the more well-rounded fighter and it was clear that his trainer Greg Jackson outcoached yet another mixed martial arts team. This time it was American Top Team out of South Florida.
Marquardt was elusive and did a great job of picking his spots to mix in punches, kicks and knees. Gouveia got desperate in the third round and began lunging forward to land shots, that’s when Marquardt nailed him with a perfectly timed flying right knee. The knee caught Gouveia just over his left eye opening a nasty cut. He reeled back towards the cage. Marquardt threw everything except the kitchen sink at Gouveia in the next seven seconds as he nailed him with two left head kicks then a right head kick followed by a spinning backfist. One final left knee and Gouveia crumbled to the canvas at 3:10 of the third round.
Marquardt wants another shot at UFC middleweight champ Anderson Silva:
"It’s not going to be a rematch. The Nate you saw tonight isn’t the Nate you saw fight for the title. It’s gonna be my first time."
Marquardt (28-8-2, 7-2 UFC) flopped in his first shot at Silva at UFC 73. Demain Maia looked great tonight as well. If Silva gets by Leites at UFC 97, who deserves the first shot at "The Spider", Marquardt or Meia?
- UFC Quick Quote: The only thing standing between Wilson Gouveia and Anderson Silva is Nate Marquardt
- Nate Marquardt and Team Jackson prepare for Wilson Gouveia at UFC 95 on Feb. 21 (Pic)
- UFC 102 postfight interview: Marquardt will take Hendo or Silva
- Marquardt vs. Maia should be the people’s choice
- Maia’s sloppy standup leads to one-punch KO by Marquardt
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