If Demian Maia‘s “O” had to go, as the horrible fighting cliche goes, Nate Marquardt was going to make sure it went emphatically.
Maia went into UFC 102 unbeaten nearly five years ago. He had been working on his striking with Wanderlei Silva. But just 21 seconds into the fight, Marquardt put an exclamation point on why that didn’t really matter to him.
As Maia came forward early in the fight, Marquardt unleashed a right hand that took Maia right off his feet. The Brazilian hit the canvas head first, and as Marquardt moved in for a finishing shot, he pulled back, knowing his opponent was done.
Next week, Marquardt finds himself in a precarious position, though. With three straight losses, including the last two by first-round knockout, the former UFC middleweight title challenger and former Strikeforce welterweight titleholder may need a win to keep his job.
He’ll have to do it in enemy territory at UFC Fight Night 43. Marquardt (32-13-2 MMA, 10-6 UFC) headlines the event opposite New Zealand native James Te Huna (16-7 MMA, 5-3 UFC). The event streams Vector Arena in Auckland on UFC Fight Pass starting at 2 a.m. ET.
But first, check out a better time for Marquardt, when he won his third straight by knockout in the video above.
For more on UFC Fight Night 43, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.
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