Main event fighter Nate Marquardt has been forced out of the fight at, quite literally, the last second.
“He was not medically cleared. It is nothing serious,” said Kelly Crigger, a representative of Marquardt’s management team at Alchemist Mixed Martial Arts. Crigger could not go into any further detail than that until Alchemist releases an official statement, which is expected shortly.
The UFC, at the UFC on Versus 4 weigh-in, stated that Marquardt did not pass the required physical.
UFC on Versus 4 now takes on an entirely different as the heavyweight co-main event between Pat Barry and Cheick Kongo now moves into the headliner slot.
Marquardt was to make his UFC welterweight debut at UFC on Versus 4 on Sunday night against Anthony Johnson. Johnson then had to drop out due to injury and Top 10 welterweight Rick Story stepped in to face Marquardt.
Story will remain on the card, but will face AMA Fight Club’s Charlie Brenneman in a feature bout.
(Additional reporting by Damon Martin)
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