Chrom
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 |  Subject: Nate Marquardt Signs Multi-Fight Contract with BAMMA Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:58 am | |
| - Quote :
- Less than a month after being released by the UFC for registering
high levels of testosterone, former Octagon star Nate Marquardt has
already found himself a new home. Although several promotions expressed
interest in acquiring the controversial welterweight, “Nate the Great”
opted to join upstart British Association of Mixed Martial Arts.
“I’m very excited to be working with BAMMA,” Marquardt told ESPN.
“They hold sports regulation in high regard and mandate it for their
athletes. They are also known for signing top-level fighters and I want
to fight the best. I can’t wait to show everyone what I’m capable of in
the welterweight division.”
As standard with most MMA contracts, the financial terms of the deal
were not disclosed. However, it was reported Marquardt entered into “a
multi-fight, worldwide exclusive promotional” arrangement. The contract
is one of the richest awarded in the company’s brief history.
BAMMA vice president Liam Fisher told ESPN it’s possible they’ll add
him to their September 10th card in Birmingham, England, and that a
welterweight title shot right off the bat wouldn’t be out of the
question.
“If we do line him up for September, I think his next fight [after
that] will be in February,” Fisher said. “We’ve already penciled that in
pending fitness.”
Speaking of medical requirements, the company recently introduced
mandatory performance-enhancing drug tests for all of their championship
affairs, as well as random pre- and post-event screenings.
“We definitely said that the random tests can occur between events,
so we’re going to try and work towards that,” Fisher added. “What I
don’t want this to turn into is some kind of witch hunt towards Nate –
if he comes to the UK he gets targeted because of what’s happened
previously.
“I think whatever we do is going to be a natural process towards our
regulation as a country anyway. I don’t think it will revolve around
Nate. We’ll see what stage we can get to before the next show.”
Marquardt was slated to headline “UFC on Versus 4” opposite Rick
Story, but was abruptly pulled from the show just minutes before the
official weigh-ins because he failed to meet the medical requirements
issued by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission. 5th Round WTF!!? He doesn't even sign with the next best org not under ZUFFA? I guess he's looking to get some guaranteed W's under his belt.... | |
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| | Subject: Re: Nate Marquardt Signs Multi-Fight Contract with BAMMA Fri Jul 22, 2011 3:16 pm | |
| He didn't sign with Bellator supposedly because they wanted to lock him in for 3 years and his mgmt hoped he'd be back in the UFC by then. | |
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