Nate Marquardt Heads to England, Will Fight for BAMMA

**Kemal** · 22-07-2011, 22:39

After being bounced out of the UFC for failing to gain proper medical clearance to use testosterone, Nate Marquardt has signed with a new promotion -- one that doesn't have an American TV deal and doesn't have many high-profile opponents for Marquardt to fight.

The promotion, the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts, said on Friday that it has signed Marquardt to an exclusive deal, making Marquardt by far the best fighter in the organization.

The question now is whether BAMMA will be able to find appropriate opponents for Marquardt, a Top 10 middleweight who had been planning to move down to welterweight before the UFC cut him. Almost all of the top talent in the welterweight and middleweight divisions is tied up to North American promotions, and Marquardt may soon find himself fighting unknowns in fights that few American fans will see.

"I'm very excited to be working with BAMMA," Marquardt said, per Josh Gross of ESPN.com. "They hold sports regulation in high regard and mandate it for their athletes. They are also known for signing top-level fighters and I want to fight the best. I can't wait to show everyone what I'm capable of in the welterweight division."

Realistically, it's hard to see how Marquardt can "fight the best" if he's under contract to BAMMA. The only high-level welterweight under contract to BAMMA is Paul Daley, and BAMMA vice president Liam Fisher told ESPN.com that he couldn't commit to putting together a Marquardt vs. Daley fight.

Marquardt could make his BAMMA debut as soon as September 10 at BAMMA 7, which will take place at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. That card features a main event of Frank Trigg vs. Tom Watson and also includes a welterweight fight of Che Mills vs. Joey Villasenor.