Nate Marquardt Vs. Chael Sonnen For Title Shot Against Anderson Silva

UFC President Dana White announced during today’s “UFC 109: Relentless” press conference that the winner of the co-main event bout between Nate Marquardt and Chael Sonnen will be the #1 contender.

“We always had it it mind, these guys are two of the top five in the world,” White said about making the Marquardt vs. Sonnen bout a #1 contender’s match.

“I’m very excited for this fight, that’s actually the first time I’ve heard that it’s going to be for a title shot officially,” Marquardt said after hearing the good news.

Since losing to Anderson Silva at UFC 73, Marquardt has compiled an impressive 4-1 record while Sonnen has won two straight inside the Octagon since losing to Demian Maia.

White put everyone at ease by saying that Silva will be staying at middleweight because he hasn’t cleaned out the division quite yet. In fact, White admitted that, “I’m the one that’s been pushing him up to 205 really.”

If Silva can get past Vitor Belfort at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, then we’ll know who his next opponent will be after Saturday night.

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