Five Questions as Nate Marquardt Makes the Move to the Welterweight Division
Former middleweight title challenger Nate "The Great" Marquardt made an announcement he would be moving to the 170-lb. weight division.
His first opponent will be Anthony Johnson at UFC on Versus 4.
There will be many questions fans will be wondering as one of the bigger middleweights drops to a division 15 pounds lighter.
Marquardt holds a UFC record of 10-4 with every bout coming in the middleweight division, where pound-for-pound king Anderson Silva reigns supreme.
No. 5: How Far Can Marquardt Make It in a Division Filled with Wrestlers?
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It is arguably Marquard't biggest weakness. His last two defeats, which have only come against elite middleweight opponents Chael Sonnen and Yushin Okami, were due to a wrestling disadvantage he had in those bouts.
Some of the wrestlers that fight in the welterweight division include champion Georges St. Pierre, Josh Koscheck, Jon Fitch, Rick Story and Hall of Famer Matt Hughes.
These are the toughest types of fighters to face for most, and Marquardt hasn't had the best success against them in the past.
No. 4: Can Marquardt Make 170 Pounds?
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It's going to be a battle of the scales when Marquardt and Anthony Johnson make weight the day before their June 26th bout.
Everyone knows the problems Johnson has making weight, and Marquardt is arguably just as big as the massive welterweight fighter when not training.
It will be quite an accomplishment if Marquardt makes the 170-lb. weight limit, but it will be even more of an accomplishment if he can make it without hurting his power and cardio.
No. 3: What Negative Effects Will the Weight Cut Have on Him?
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The most obvious effects weight cuts have on fighters is with their cardio and their power, something that Marquardt has a wealthy amount of.
Fighters who cut a lot of weight usually don't fare to well in the later rounds of fights, and in the division with fighters like St. Pierre and Fitch, cardio is a key factor in how their performance will look and feel.
Fans will find out quickly if Marquardt is going to remain in the division after he fights Johnson. He is either going to show problems early against an elite opponent or he is going to show that his weight cut won't be a problem.
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No. 2: How Will His Major Size Advantage Play a Factor in His Success?
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One fighter Marquardt fought before, Martin Kampmann, made the move to the welterweight division after he was finished in Round 1 by the notably bigger and stronger fighter at UFC 88.
Marquardt may not necessarily feel any bigger when he faces Anthony Johnson, who walks around at 220 pounds, but it will be a major advantage in other fights against the smaller welterweights and the not-so-small fighters in the division.
He can apply the same type of pressure and more as long as the weight cut doesn't how any effects on him that he applied in his fight with Kampmann.
No. 1: Will He Fight Teammate Georges St. Pierre?
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Marquardt recently clarified in a radio interview with Bloody Elbow he would have no problem fighting teammate from Greg Jackson's camp in Albuquerque.
"I don't think you should fight teammates, but when I say teammate I don't necessarily mean somebody who's under the same banner," Marquardt said.
"I'm talking about guys that I train with everyday or a guy like Georges where I go out several times a year for a week or two at a time. I wouldn't be where I'm at without guys like that. If I can fight someone else, why would I fight my friend and teammate?
"Unless it's going to benefit both of us more than fighting someone else—I don't see why I would want to do that but if there was a case where it was going to benefit both us, no matter what, win or lose...then in that case I might owe it to my teammate and myself to fight him."
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