http://www.yourmma.tv/news/details.asp/id/1650/nate-marquardt-signs-multi-fight-deal-with-bamma.htm
I'll be looking forward to Daley/Marquardt.
Nate Marquardt's UFC exit was a hasty one, and hasn't been away from the forefront of the MMA news arena since he was axed in June. He was forced to withdraw from a headline bout with Rick Story at UFC on Versus 4 after not passing his blood test on elevated testosterone levels. The cause was deemed to be a mix-up with prescribed testosterone replacement therapy.
That story has been covered in depth via almost every MMA media outlet so more information can be found, but the fresh news coming through Josh Gross at ESPN is that Marquardt has now signed a multi-fight deal with British promotion BAMMA, one that will see him fight exclusively for them.
"I'm very excited to be working with BAMMA," Marquardt told Gross. "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."
This is a big coup for the organisation who are trying to expand and be deemed a world class outfit. Signing a top-five ranked middleweight (albeit one that is dropping to welterweight) whilst he is still in his fighting prime signals their intent and shows that they're going to be dropping large amounts of capital to do so.
BAMMA president Liam Fisher noted that he expected Marquardt to fight in September, and hopefully again in February.
I'll be looking forward to Daley/Marquardt.