Former UFC middleweight Nate ‘The Great’ Marquardt (31-10-2) has signed with Strikeforce and is back under the Zuffa banner since his dismissal last summer.
News of his signing was announced on Tuesday’s edition of “UFC Tonight” on FUEL TV.
According to MMAjunkie.com, Marquardt will debut with Strikeforce as a welterweight and will meet undefeated fighter Tyron Woodley (10-0) at an unknown date, with verbal agreements set between the two.
Marquardt was released from the UFC last June following a failure by ‘The Great’ to obtain an exemption from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission for hormone replacement therapy. At the time, test showed a high level of testosterone, which were above the Commission’s allowable limits.
News of the debacle went down on weigh-in day for UFC on Versus 4, as Marquardt was preparing to face Rick Story at the event. UFC president Dana White released him immediately and vowed that he would never return to the Octagon.
After his release, Marquardt signed with the UK based BAMMA organization, but after two bouts failed to materialize, the two parted ways this past January.
Now it seems that White has softened his stance by bringing Marquardt back into the Zuffa fold, just not back into the Octagon.
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