Marquardt: Palhares ‘very easy’ to prepare for

Middleweight Nate Marquardt masterminded his UFC Fight Night 22 strategy for Brazilian jiu jitsu ace Rousimar Palhares within a matter of nanoseconds.

It makes the game plan very easy, Marquardt told 5thRound.com of his canvas or bust opponent. Obviously, he’s going to try to get me down and catch me in some kind of submission. Whether it’s an armbar or ankle lock, I have to be able to defend those positions, as well as not get there in the first place.

I don’t have to worry a ton about my stand-up skills, as far as if they’re going to be adequate. I still trained stand-up, but I’m confident that I’m already better than him at the stand-up game.

I’m not scared to go to the ground, and honestly there might be times where I’ll take him to the ground, but initially I’m going to fight him standing. If that’s going the way I want it to, 100 percent, I’m not gonna change.

I was in the gym again the week after the [Chael Sonnen] fighy. I’m still upset about the fight. I’m still upset at the mistake I made, but that’s what drives me to do better. That’s what motivates me to do it the right way from now on.

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