Mixed martial arts fighter Nate Marquardt, who was scheduled to be in the main event at a card Sunday in Pittsburgh, has been kicked out of the UFC for life.
Marquardt, 32, failed to pass his prefight medical examination with the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission and was not allowed to fight.
Before Sunday’s event, UFC on Versus 4, UFC president Dana White said: “People make mistakes. We’re human beings. It’s going to happen. It’s how you handle it. And Nate Marquardt is a nice guy. He’s a sweetheart, and he always says the right things. (But) being nice and acting nice and doing the right thing are two different things.
“Nate Marquardt is going to have to man up and come out and tell the world why he didn’t pass his medicals. And when he does that, I think everybody will understand why he was cut from the UFC.”
Marquardt said via his Twitter account that he was sorry and he would discuss his failed medical examination today during an online chat ().
Marquardt, who trains at the Grudge Training Center in Wheat Ridge, has been fighting professionally since 1999 and is 34-10-2 (eight knockouts).
In a statement from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission, executive director Gregory Sirb said: “Nate has known for probably about a month and a half. He knew about the situation. It was no surprise.”
After a successful career as a middleweight (185 pounds), Marquardt was trying to drop to the welterweight (170) division.
“Bottom line is, what Nate Marquardt did is bad enough to be cut from the UFC,” White said on the telecast. “I’m disgusted with him. He has no business fighting in the UFC.”
Denver Post staff and wire reports
