UFC 158‘s game of musical welterweight chairs is finally complete – assuming the injury bug doesn’t come rearing its ugly head again, of course. Jake Ellenberger (Pictured) will now meet Nate Marquardt in the March 16th event.
The Canadian Press first reported the new matchup.
Ellenberger was initially slated to face Johny Hendricks in the show, but “Bigg Rigg” got the bump to fight Carlos Condit in the card’s co-featured attraction. Rory MacDonald was the first domino to fall when an injury forced him out of his rematch against Condit.
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Ellenberger was last seen in October avenging his 2006 loss to Jay Hieron. “The Juggernaut” has won seven of his past eight inside the Octagon. The 27-year-old’s lone blemish during his current run came against Martin Kampmann.
Marquardt returns to the big leagues fresh off losing his Strikeforce welterweight crown to Tarec Saffiedine. “Nate the Great” was originally fired from the UFC in June 2011 after failing his pre-fight drug test just hours before weighing in.
The 33-year-old later revealed he was on testosterone replacement therapy.
Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada hosts the gig.
Here is the show’s revised roster:
Preliminary Card:
(Facebook 6:35PM ET/3:35PM PT)
Yves Jabouin vs. Johnny Eduardo
Mitch Gagnon vs. Issei Tamura
Jordan Mein vs. Dan Miller
(FX 8PM ET/5PM PT)
Daron Cruickshank vs. John Makdessi
Antonio Carvalho vs. Darren Elkins
Quinn Mulhern vs. Rick Story
Patrick Cote vs. Bobby Voelker
Main Card:
(Pay-Per-View 10PM ET/7PM PT)
Mike Ricci vs. Colin Fletcher
Chris Camozzi vs. Nick Ring
Jake Ellenberger vs. Nate Marquardt
Carlos Condit vs. Johny Hendricks
Nick Diaz vs. Georges St-Pierre (UFC welterweight champion)