Marquardt, Palhares Set for UFC Fight Night 22

The 31-year-old Marquardt, who made his MMA debut in 1999 and earned multiple titles in Japan before joining the UFC ranks, weighed in at 186 pounds. Dangerous Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Palhares came in at 186 pounds as well.

Marquardt, a longtime pillar of Greg Jackson’s MMA squad, will look to right the ship following a unanimous decision defeat to Chael Sonnen at UFC 109 last February in Las Vegas. Prior to that, Marquardt had reeled off straight wins over Demian Maia, Wilson Gouveia, and Martin Kampmann.

Palhares rides a three-fight win streak into his tussle with Marquardt. The 30-year-old Brazilian Top Team member notched wins against Jeremy Horn, Lucio Linhares, and Polish import Tomasz Drwal, who Palhares submitted with a 45-second heel hook at UFC 111 last March in New Jersey.

In the co-main event, “The Ultimate Fighter” season eight winner Efrain Escudero weighed in at 159 pounds for his lightweight bout against undefeated Charles Oliveira, who was 154 pounds. Escudero will forfeit 20 percent of his purse to Oliveira, as the bout will now be considered a catch-weight affair.

Escudero earned a unanimous decision over Dan Lauzon at UFC 114 in May, while Oliveira submitted Darren Elkins with a 41-second armbar at UFC on Versus 2 last August in San Diego, Calif.

Nate Marquardt (186) vs. Rousimar Palhares (186)
Efrain Escudero (159)* vs. Charles Oliveira (154)
Jim Miller (155.5) vs. Gleison Tibau (154)
Cole Miller (156) vs. Ross Pearson (156)
Yves Edwards (155) vs. John Gunderson (156)
Jared Hamman (205) vs. Kyle Kingsbury (206)
Rich Attonito (185) vs. Rafael Natal (186)
David Mitchell (170.5) vs. Anthony Waldburger (171)
Brian Foster (170.5) vs. Forrest Petz (170)
Tomasz Drwal (185.5) vs. Dave Branch (186)

* Escudero will forfeit 20 percent of his purse to Oliveira for missing weight