Denver’s Nate Marquardt nearly forced three submissions in the first round, but Japan’s Yushin Okami survived and prevailed by unanimous decision in a mixed martial arts middleweight fight Saturday in UFC 122 in Oberhausen, Germany.
Okami earned a title shot in the division, against the winner of the favored Anderson Silva and Vitor Belfort, who battle in February. Marquardt was seeking a rematch against current champion Silva after losing to him in 2007.
On Saturday, Okami (27-5) rallied in the third round with jabs that cut Marquardt’s face. And a flurry of punches sent Marquardt (33-10-2) to the cage.
The Denver fighter, who trains in Wheat Ridge, earned a second takedown of Okami in the third round but couldn’t capitalize, as Okami earned a 29-28, 30-27 and 29-28 decision.
