UFC’s Marquardt eager to drop down to welterweight

Mixed martial arts fighters often are prompted to drop down in weight by a loss or the realization that that might be their best shot at a title.

Nate Marquardt is an exception. He is coming off a win over Dan Miller in March and was a consensus top-five middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship pecking order.

Still, he decided to move down to 170 pounds, where he will make his welterweight debut against Rick Story in the main event of the UFC on Versus 4 card in Pittsburgh on Sunday.

"For me, it was about how I felt. For my last fight, I was very light and I felt the best I'd felt in years," Marquardt said. "I think it's just more of a natural weight for me, and my body operates better with less weight on it. It's just about performance, and I feel I'm going to perform better at a lighter weight regardless of if I'm fighting at 185 or 170."

Marquardt is viewing the move as permanent, even though his good friend and training partner Georges St. Pierre currently holds the welterweight belt. He has been intentionally vague about the possibility of facing St. Pierre, who might move up to middleweight to face champion Anderson Silva.

Even if he doesn't want to talk about it specifically, the 32-year-old Marquardt knows his past success, combined with a win Sunday, would put him in the title conversation at welterweight.

"I guess (a win) would put me at the top. I mean Rick's a very tough guy, and he just beat (Thiago) Alves, who was a former world title contender," Marquardt said. "I'm just excited for the opportunity."

Marquardt said the weight cut has been fairly easy, but he still employs a dietitian who will be with him in Pittsburgh to make sure everything goes smoothly, including rehydration.

The key for Marquardt is that he feels he hasn't lost any power in the process, and he is primed to debut his new body on Sunday.

"I feel way better at this weight. My cardio is just excellent. I feel 100 percent," he said. "I can train 100 percent every day, and I just feel like an animal."

Sunday's card includes a pair of heavyweight bouts, with Cheick Kongo taking on Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione facing Christian Morecraft.

■ JONES-JACKSON SET -- Injured light heavyweight champion Jon Jones is one step closer to making his first title defense, with an oral agreement in place to defend the belt at UFC 135 in Denver.

Jones will face former champion Quinton "Rampage" Jackson on the card, on Sept. 24 at the Pepsi Center.

Also expected on the card is a welterweight battle between Matt Hughes and Diego Sanchez.

■ BONNAR HURT -- Stephan Bonnar suffered a small tear in his medial collateral ligament and will be unable to fight Karlos Vemola at the UFC on Versus 5 card Aug. 14 in Milwaukee.

The injury will not require surgery but is expected to keep the Las Vegan out of training for about six weeks.

Vemola instead will face Ronny Markes.

■ GROVE RELEASED -- "The Ultimate Fighter" Season 3 champion Kendall Grove has been released by the UFC.

"Thank u UFC for a lot of Good memory's. Respect to all the staff at zuffa for always treating me like family," the 28-year-old middleweight posted on his Facebook page on Friday.

Grove posted a 7-6 record in the UFC, including consecutive losses, and becomes the third former "TUF" winner to be released. He had a difficult time staying off his back in a unanimous decision loss to Tim Boetsch at UFC 130 on May 28.

Also cut on Friday was "TUF" Season 13 competitor Chuck O'Neil. The welterweight lost a decision to Chris Cope in his only UFC bout June 4 at the Palms on the season finale card.

Contact reporter Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com or 702-224-5509.