The Mac
01-06-2011, 08:15 PM
After a recent money-laundering conviction prompted a "suspension" (contract freeze) from the organization, Chael Sonnen has been replaced by Nate Marquardt (30-10-2 MMA, 9-4 UFC), who now meets Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-3 MMA, 1-2 UFC) at UFC 128.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported the Sonnen-Akiyama booking earlier this week, but the federal charges forced its cancellation.
But sources told MMAjunkie.com Marquardt has verbally agreed to step in for Sonnen. ESPN.com first reported the bout.
UFC 128 takes place March 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and features a light-heavyweight title bout between champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and former champ Rashad Evans. Akiyama vs. Marquardt will be part of the pay-per-view main card.
Marquardt fights for the first time since a November loss to Yushin Okami that cost him a guaranteed shot at the title. Prior to the decision defeat, Marquardt went 5-2 in his seven fights since an unsuccessful bid to take champ Anderson Silva's title in 2007. He also lost a No. 1 contender's bout three fights ago to Chael Sonnen at UFC 109.
Akiyama, meanwhile, was one of the UFC's biggest acquisitions in 2009, but he now could be fighting for his future in the organization. The former K-1 HERO's and DREAM fighter made his octagon debut at UFC 100 and narrowly edged Alan Belcher via split decision. He since has suffered a submission loss to Chris Leben and a split-decision defeat to Michael Bisping.
MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) first reported the Sonnen-Akiyama booking earlier this week, but the federal charges forced its cancellation.
But sources told MMAjunkie.com Marquardt has verbally agreed to step in for Sonnen. ESPN.com first reported the bout.
UFC 128 takes place March 19 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and features a light-heavyweight title bout between champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and former champ Rashad Evans. Akiyama vs. Marquardt will be part of the pay-per-view main card.
Marquardt fights for the first time since a November loss to Yushin Okami that cost him a guaranteed shot at the title. Prior to the decision defeat, Marquardt went 5-2 in his seven fights since an unsuccessful bid to take champ Anderson Silva's title in 2007. He also lost a No. 1 contender's bout three fights ago to Chael Sonnen at UFC 109.
Akiyama, meanwhile, was one of the UFC's biggest acquisitions in 2009, but he now could be fighting for his future in the organization. The former K-1 HERO's and DREAM fighter made his octagon debut at UFC 100 and narrowly edged Alan Belcher via split decision. He since has suffered a submission loss to Chris Leben and a split-decision defeat to Michael Bisping.