“Definitely if I can stay away from the ankle locks that is gonna be a plus and I think he is definitely disadvantaged in the standing fight so I think the more I can keep the fight standing the better. … It depends on how aggressive he is. The more aggressive he is the easier its gonna be to find that knockout punch. But there again I feel comfortable to go on the ground if need be, I have very good training partners on the ground and guys that are super-strong too, guys that are good at ankle-locks… I feel very confident going into this fight.”
“… When (Rousimar) goes to fight he goes to submit his opponents and if he can walk out of the ring with one of their legs he is gonna do it, so I think I gotta be very prepared for this fight and take him 100 per cent seriously.”
“Rousimar is a very tough guy and very dangerous, I respect him. But sometimes it is tough to stay focused on this fight. Like you say, watching Chael and Anderson fight… I want to get back in there with both of those guys and show them that I am better than them.”
— Check out the full interview at fightersonlymagazine.co.uk.
Nate “The Great” Marquardt (29-9-2) -240
Loss Chael Sonnen – Decision (Unanimous) UFC 109 5:00 R3
Win Demian Maia – KO (Punch) UFC 102 0:21 R1
Win Wilson Gouveia – TKO (Knee and Punches) UFC 95 3:10 R3
Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares (11-2) +190
Win Tomasz Drwal – Submission (Heel Hook) UFC 111 0:45 R1
Win Lucio Linhares – Submission (Heel Hook) UFC 107 3:21 R2
Win Jeremy Horn – Decision (Unanimous) UFC 93 5:00 R3