Nate Marquardt Faces Brad Tavares at UFC 182
A middleweight match-up between former Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt and Brad Tavares has been added to the UFC 182 fight card on Jan. 3. The Las Vegas Review Journal first reported the bout and UFC officials confirmed the addition on Friday.
After losing three consecutive fights in the welterweight division, Marquardt (33-13, 2 NC) moved back to the middleweight division and captured a much-needed win, submitting James Te Huna in June. The 35-year-old has fought the majority of his career in the 185-pound division and hopes to reestablish himself as a middleweight contender.
Tavares (12-3) is coming off back-to-back losses. He put together a five-fight winning streak before losing to Yoel Romero by unanimous decision in April. He was knocked out by Tim Boetsch in his last outing in August. The 26-year-old will try to stop the two-fight skid when he faces Marquardt.
UFC 182 takes place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Jan. 3, and features two title fights. Light heavyweight champion Jon Jones puts his title on the line against Daniel Cormier in the main event, while women’s bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey faces Cat Zingano in the co-main event.
