Nate Marquardt scores first round TKO over Rousimar Palhares
Before their fight at Ultimate Fight Night 22, screened on the Ultimate Fighting Championships Wednesday night, the big question was whether Rousimar Palhares would be able to catch Nate “The Great” Marquardt
in a submission, or whether Marquardt could use his fists to stop the submission fighter. The answer to both came within a span of 15 seconds, and it ended with Palhares pounded and beaten on the canvas in a bizarre finish.
After a brief period of inconclusive striking, Palhares shot in for a takedown on Marquardt and eventually both fighters went to the canvas. Palhares landed in the dangerous side control position, but
got up to go for one of his trademark heel hooks, which he used to finish his two last opponents. But Marquardt slipped out and stood up.
That’s when it gets complicated. Palhares started protesting from his back, waving to the ref and his corner that Marquardt had greased his legs before the fight. As he was doing so, Marquardt dove down
and cracked him with a thunderous right hand which all but separated Palhares from his senses. With Palhares dazed, Marquardt pounded on him until he turtled up and referee Herb Dean stepped in at 3 min 38 sec into the first round.
It was a strange finish that initially suggested a controversy, as given Palhares’s brutal reputation for submissions it seemed plausible a fighter might grease himself to escape. But after the fight the
referee and athletic commissioner inspected Marquardt (as they did before the fight) and found there was no basis to the Brazilian’s complaints.
The victory puts Marquardt at 30-9-2, all-time in his MMA career, and moves him back towards a title shot. He had previously challenged Anderson Silva for the UFC’s middleweight (185lb) title but lost
in the first round. Recently at UFC 109 he fought a title eliminator bout against Chael Sonnen, but was upset and lost the opportunity to fight for the belt a second time.
For Palhares, it’s only his second loss in 11 fights, the previous one having come to Dan Henderson, where he also proved unable to catch Henderson in a leglock. He’ll undoubtedly be ruing his decision
to protest and take his eye off his opponent mid-round. The split-second opportunity was all it took for him to lose. His own road to a title shot has now been derailed.
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