Nate Marquardt Evaluates His Fight with Tarec Saffiedine Next Weekend
Posted by Jeffrey Harris on 01.09.2013
He will also continue working with GSP...
MMAjunkie Radio interviewed Strikeforce welterweight champion Nate Marquardt this week. Marquardt faces Tarec Saffiedine in the final Strikeforce event on January 12. Here are some highlights:
Marquardt on how he doesn't plan on distancing himself from Georges St. Pierre even though he plans on joining the UFC welterweight division: "Georges is my friend. We've been teammates since before he was champ, since before he fought Matt Hughes the second time. I don't
Marquardt on how GSP recommended to change weight classes: "When I fought Dan Miller, I went up there to train with [St-Pierre], and he was like, 'Man, you should consider fighting at 170. You're lighter now, and you feel good.' He kind of put it in my ear, and I tested some things out, and it got my weight a little lower than normal, and I felt better."
Marquardt's evaluation of Saffiedine: "Honestly, I don't think there's any fighter I would look at and it would be different. Every fighter has their strengths, and every fighter has their weaknesses and things to expose. Tarec's a very good striker. He's got really slick head kicks, good combinations, good counters, good takedown defense. He scrambles well. He gets up well, and he's tough. I never saw him get finished. But I'm ready for this fight just like I was for Tyron. I know how tough he is, and shoot, I'm just ready to go out there and perform."
