Nate Marquardt signs exclusive deal with BAMMA

Former UFC contender Nate "The Great" Marquardt has found a new promotion to call home, signing with the UK-based British Association of Mixed Martial Arts.

Marquardt was released by the UFC after being forced out of his scheduled bout against Rick Story at UFC on Versus 4 last month when he failed to receive medical clearance due to elevated levels of testosterone (an effect of prescribed TRT).  As a result, he was subsequently placed under indefinite suspension pending the PSAC's clearance.

Though Marquardt had been rumored to be in talks with multiple organizations, BAMMA announced Friday that they have reached an exclusive deal with the former "King of Pancrase."

"As soon as we received word that the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission lifted Marquardt’s suspension we jumped at the chance to sign him," said BAMMA's Liam Fisher. "He is a top ranked contender and an asset to any promotion. Words cannot express how excited we are that Marquardt is now fighting under the BAMMA banner."

Challenges issued by both Bellator's Middleweight and Welterweight Champions, Hector Lombard and Ben Askren respectively, led some to believe Marquardt's fighting future could lie with the MTV2-broadcast promotion.  However, Bellator CEO Bjorn Rebney has since revealed that the two parties failed to come to terms on an agreement.

"Offers came in from several fight promotions, but we felt that BAMMA was definitely the best fit," Marquardt explained. "They put on high-quality shows, stack their cards with top-level fighters, and sign those fighters to multi-fight deals. They are also the only fight organization in the UK that implements PED testing. To be honest, that is one of the main reasons that we chose BAMMA. I want to prove to my fans and to the world that I'm the real deal and that I belong on top."

While there has been no word on Marquardt's first opponent with the organization, "The Great" could possibly make his debut on their upcoming BAMMA 7 event, set for September 10th from the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England.  Currently headlining the card is a Middleweight title clash between division Champion Tom Watson and challenger Frank Trigg.

Props to MMAMania.com