When Rory MacDonald withdrew from UFC 158 with a neck injury, it left Carlos Condit withour an opponent. Not one to seize an opportunity, Johny Hendricks stepped up and took the co-main event fight. However, this left Hendrick’s original opponent, Jake Ellenberger, in the same position Condit was just in. There was talk of Tyron Woodley, Nate Marquardt, and even Damian Maia filling in against Ellenberger. In the end, the UFC decided on Nate Marquardt, who is starting his second stint with the organization.

This will mark Marquardt’s first time fighting in the UFC Octagon in nearly two years, but his second fight in just over a month. Nate “The Great” Marquardt will be looking to impress the UFC execs as he steps in on short notice to take on “The Juggernaut”, Jake Ellenberger. Having lost the Strikeforce Welterweight Championship to Tarec Saffiedine in his last fight, Marquardt is set on climbing back among the top contenders in the division.

On the other hand, Jake Ellenberger, currently ranked the #7 welterweight in the world by Sherdog, will be looking to reclaim his place in the division, after going 7-1 in his last 8. A win over a seasoned Nate Marquardt would give Ellenberger his second in a row, and surely move him up in the UFC welterweight ranks. Be sure to tune in to UFC 158 on March 16, at the Bell Centre in Montreal Quebec, and see who establishes themselves as a top welterweight contender.

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