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Dana White ‘disgusted’ with Nate Marquardt, but reasons still unclear

Marquardt vows to speak on issues Tuesday

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Las Vegas Sun

Nate Marquardt is interviewed at the Mandalay Bay Events Center Wednesday, February 3, 2010.

Many assumed UFC President Dana White and Pennsylvania Athletic Commission Executive Director Greg Sirb would reveal more details of Nate Marquardt’s mysterious failed medicals and release from the promotion during the UFC on Versus 4 telecast.

That never materialized Sunday evening. Although White and Sirb both appeared on the broadcast, neither could provide any specifics regarding Marquardt’s situation.

They cited Pennsylvania HIPAA laws that prevent the release of a fighter’s medical issues as the reason for their silence.

“Nate Marquardt is going to have to man up and tell the world why he didn’t pass his medicals,” White said on television. “When he does that, I think everyone will understand why he was cut from the UFC.”

Marquardt and his team have declined to discuss why he didn’t meet Pennsylvania medical requirements and pulled out of a main event bout with Rick Story a day before it was scheduled.

But, according to Marquardt’s twitter, that will end shortly.

“I will personally be addressing all issues related to my medicals, etc this Tuesday,” Marquardt posted.

The broadcast did confirm the problem had nothing to do with Marquardt dropping to welterweight for the first time in his UFC career. Versus reported that Marquardt was on weight at 170 pounds hours before Friday’s weigh-in.

Sirb said both the commission and Marquardt were aware of the issue well in advance of the fight, but assumed it would be taken care of before the weigh-in.

“We tried to give Nate as much time as possible to satisfy our medical requirements,” Sirb said. “It got down to the 24th hour, about 3:00 on Friday, and he didn’t satisfy them. The fight had to be pulled.”

White spoke glowingly of the Pennsylvania commission, which he called “the best in the United States.” He had quite a different message for Marquardt, his long-time employee.

“Bottom line, what Nate Marquardt did is bad enough to be cut by the UFC,” White said. “I’m disgusted with him. He has no business fighting in the UFC.”

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.

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