Dana White appeared just minutes ago on Versus and we still have few answers about why Nate Marquardt was dumped from the main event at UFC on Versus 4 and fired by the promotion. The UFC president pointed to confidentiality issues and laid the suspension at the feet of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission.
The PSAC chief Greg Sirb said a problem was discovered six weeks ago and that Marquardt had a chance to rectify it, but did not.
"We gave him every opportunity," Sirb said. "The last report we got was 4 o'clock yesterday. We had given him as much leeway as we could, but obviously, when you've got a live event, you've got to make a call at that time," Sirb told MMAWeekly. "(It's) pretty straightforward stuff. You've got to meet these requirements, and there's no ifs, ands or buts about it. Unfortunately, he did not. I felt for the kid. I really did. He knew about it, and I think he was trying."
Was trying what?
"He knew the situation," Sirb said. "There was no surprise. Everybody knew. I think everybody assumed he was going to be able to qualify."
If "everybody knew" it sure seemed like the UFC was caught off guard. Why would you allow a fighter to risk a main event right up to a day before the fight? That might explain why Marquardt failing the medicals was greeted with such severe consequences.
"We can't say anything," Sirba said. "The HIPAA laws are really strict."
During his brief appearance on a Versus prefight show, White said something similar. It definitely sounds like something serious. White was still steaming.
"The thing that's going on with Nate Marquardt, Pennsylvania laws are unfortunate in that the commission can't come out and announce medical records or medical situations with fighters," White said. "But I think it's pretty clear to the fans and everybody else that I'm pretty disgusted with Nate Marquardt. He's been cut from the UFC. He won't fight in the UFC ever again.� Bottom line is, what Nate Marquardt did is bad enough to be cut from the UFC. ... I'm disgusted with him. He has no business fighting in the UFC."
Marquardt is currently under suspension from the state of Pennsylvania, but it does sound like something he can remedy.
"He needs to show us a new report," Sirb said. "When that report comes in and he meets our requirements, which could even be tomorrow, we'll take him off. It could be two months, but it's an indefinite suspension until he submits that report we're looking for."
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