Citing Promotional Delays, Former UFC Title Contender Nate Marquardt Bows Out Of Fight With Yoshida

As reported by MMA Fighting's Ariel Helwani, Nate Marquardt has cut ties with UK-based BAMMA and, in so doing, has stepped away from his fight with fellow UFC veteran Yoshiyuki Yoshida. The bout would have served as Marquardt's first with the organization.

Marquardt and Yoshida were slated to face off at a BAMMA event this February 11. However, with news that the event would be pushed back to March, organization officials and Marquardt, whose promotional debut was already once delayed, have decided that free agency would be in the best interest of the perennial contender. From Helwani's piece, BAMMA CEO David Green gives comment:

"It is important to note that the decision to remove Nate from the BAMMA 8 card and to reschedule BAMMA 9 in no way is a result of any actions taken by him. Nate was originally to feature on the BAMMA 8 card in December and with this current date change it is only fair for us at this stage to honor Nate's contract agreement and allow him to look for fights outside of the BAMMA promotion.

"I cannot speak highly enough of the professional manner in which Nate Marquardt and his team have conducted themselves. They have been an absolute pleasure to work with and we are just disappointed that we have not been able to work out a way to seeing Nate take his place on the BAMMA 9 card."

Marquardt last fought in March of 2011, earning a unanimous decision over Dan Miller. An anticipated welterweight debut last year ended in disaster when he was cited by the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission for abnormally high testosterone levels. As a result, Marquardt was removed from his headlining spot at the eleventh hour and dismissed from the UFC. He hasn't fought since the release.

With BAMMA off the agenda, and Strikeforce now a Zuffa promotion that isn't likely to recruit the embattled Marquardt, there aren't too many more options for the former UFC title challenger. At this point, it seems that Bellator is Marquardt's best option. Between the likes of Hector Lombard, Alexander Schlemenko, and Bryan Baker at 185, and Ben Askren, Jay Hieron, and Douglas Lima at 170, I'd say the organization plays host to a strong cast of both middleweight and welterweight opposition, and it likely offers the best chance for Marquardt to regain his relevancy in the sport.