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One-time UFC middleweight title challenger Nate Marquardt will not be making his welterweight debut this weekend.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned that Marquardt is a late scratch from Sunday's UFC on Versus 4 event, and opponent Rick Story (13-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) will now instead meet Charlie Brenneman (12-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) on the evening's main card.
With the late change, a highly-anticipated heavyweight bout between Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo has now been promoted to main-event status.
The reason for Marquardt's last-minute withdrawal, mere hours before he was scheduled to hit the scales at the event's official weigh-ins, wasn't immediately evident. However, Marquardt's camp did release a statement insisting the setback was temporary and his future still lies at 170 pounds.
"Nate is really disappointed," the statement read. "He really was looking forward to making his welterweight debut, and he plans to be back in there as soon as possible."
UFC on Versus 4 takes place Sunday at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh
Story is Brenneman's third opponent for UFC on Versus 4. His original opponent, Matt Riddle, withdrew from the card in May, while replacement foe T.J. Grant fell ill earlier this week and was also forced to withdraw from the card.
A Pennsylvania native, Brenneman looks to build on a January decision win over Amilcar Alves. The victory came after a TKO loss to Johny Hendricks at UFC 117 that snapped a six-fight win streak for "The Spaniard."
Story was also a replacement, stepping in on short notice for an injured Anthony Johnson, who was originally scheduled to face Marquardt in the evening's featured bout. Story, who is riding a six-fight octagon winning streak, recently notched the biggest win of his career with a UFC 130 victory over Thiago Alves.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) has learned that Marquardt is a late scratch from Sunday's UFC on Versus 4 event, and opponent Rick Story (13-3 MMA, 6-1 UFC) will now instead meet Charlie Brenneman (12-2 MMA, 2-1 UFC) on the evening's main card.
With the late change, a highly-anticipated heavyweight bout between Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo has now been promoted to main-event status.
The reason for Marquardt's last-minute withdrawal, mere hours before he was scheduled to hit the scales at the event's official weigh-ins, wasn't immediately evident. However, Marquardt's camp did release a statement insisting the setback was temporary and his future still lies at 170 pounds.
"Nate is really disappointed," the statement read. "He really was looking forward to making his welterweight debut, and he plans to be back in there as soon as possible."
UFC on Versus 4 takes place Sunday at CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh
Story is Brenneman's third opponent for UFC on Versus 4. His original opponent, Matt Riddle, withdrew from the card in May, while replacement foe T.J. Grant fell ill earlier this week and was also forced to withdraw from the card.
A Pennsylvania native, Brenneman looks to build on a January decision win over Amilcar Alves. The victory came after a TKO loss to Johny Hendricks at UFC 117 that snapped a six-fight win streak for "The Spaniard."
Story was also a replacement, stepping in on short notice for an injured Anthony Johnson, who was originally scheduled to face Marquardt in the evening's featured bout. Story, who is riding a six-fight octagon winning streak, recently notched the biggest win of his career with a UFC 130 victory over Thiago Alves.
