James Te Huna vs. Nate Marquardt headlines UFC Fight Night in Auckland, New Zealand

For the first time, the UFC will head to New Zealand this summer with a middleweight bout in the main event.

New Zealand’s own James Te Huna (16-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC) will headline the card against former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt (32-13-2 MMA, 10-6 UFC), who will move back to 185 pounds at a “Fight Night” event in Auckland on June 28. Te Huna will be dropping from light heavyweight to middleweight for the first time.

UFC officials announced the card and headliner on Monday. The MMA Corner first reported news of the New Zealand trip, as well as the headliner.

The event will come the same day as a “Fight Night” event set for San Antonio. “UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt” will take place at Vector Arena in Auckland and ix expected to stream on UFC Fight Pass.

“We are very excited about the UFC’s debut event in New Zealand,” stated Tom Wright, the UFC’s managing director of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. “This country has a proud and successful combat sports history and certainly punches above its weight with representation in the UFC. We’re coming with a card featuring some of the greatest international and local fighters in mixed martial arts. Kiwis love their sport, and we have a great fan base already in New Zealand with mixed martial arts becoming increasingly popular.”

Along with Te Huna, three other New Zealanders are on the UFC’s roster: heavyweight Mark Hunt, middleweight Dylan Andrews, and Robert Whittaker, a welterweight “TUF: Smashes” winner.

Te Huna will be looking to snap a two-fight skid. After winning four straight with knockouts of Ricardo Romera and Aaron Rosa, and decisions over Joey Beltran and Ryan Jimmo, Te Huna was submitted by Glover Teixeira at UFC 160, then knocked out by Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in December at UFC Fight Night 33 in Australia. Te Huna has never fought in his home country. His first 17 fights, and 18 of his first 19, including three of his first four in the UFC, were in nearby Australia.

Marquardt needs to snap a three-fight skid. He won Strikeforce’s welterweight title in his first fight away from the UFC after being released with a 10-4 record. But after knocking out Tyron Woodley, he struggled against Tarec Saffiedine and surrendered his belt at Strikeforce’s final event. He returned to the UFC, but has suffered first-round knockout losses to Jake Ellenberger at UFC 158 and Hector Lombard at UFC 166 as part of the lone losing streak of his career.

More fights for the UFC’s debut in New Zealand are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

For more on “UFC Fight Night: Te Huna vs. Marquardt”, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: James Te Huna)