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[jlruthven84]

As the card for the UFC's return to London is quickly filling out, a middleweight showdown between Wilson Gouveia (12-5 MMA, 6-2 UFC) and Nate Marquardt (27-8-2 MMA, 6-2 UFC) appears likely as the latest addition to the event.

MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) has learned from sources close to the fight that both parties have accepted the fight, though bout agreements have yet to be signed.

UFC 95 takes place on Feb. 21 at the O2 Arena in London.

Gouveia is coming off of an impressive, though slightly controversial performance at The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale earlier this month. After failing to make weight weight for the bout, the Brazilian turned in a dominating performance over the always-game Jason MacDonald. A barrage of elbows forced the first-round TKO stoppage.

It was the American Top Team product's second-straight win, and his sixth win in his past seven bouts.

While Gouveia has struggled with his cardio fitness and physical conditioning first at 205 pounds and now at middleweight, the 30-year-old does hold career wins over MacDonald, Jason Lambert, Carmelo Marrero, Seth Petruzelli and a young Jon Fitch. A victory over Marquardt would lend Gouveia immediate legitimacy in the UFC's middleweight division.

Former King of Pancrase and nine-year-veteran Marquardt will be looking for his second-straight win after defeating Martin Kampmann at UFC 88 in September.

Marquardt won his first four bouts in the UFC after debuting in 2005. Wins over Ivan Salavery, Joe Doerksen, Crafton Wallace and Dean Lister earned him a shot at middleweight champion Anderson Silva in 2007, but Marquardt suffered a first-round TKO loss to "The Spider."

Marquardt followed that performance with a submission win over Jeremy Horn before dropping a controversial split decision to Thales Leites.

Marquardt is considered among the best 185-pounders in the world, and a win over Gouveia could propel him once again to the forefront of the UFC's middleweight division.

For the latest on UFC 95, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of MMAjunkie.com.

Barring any ill-advised piledrivers, Marquardt takes this. He's better conditioned and has more ways to win.

Source: Wilson Gouveia vs. Nate Marquardt likely for UFC 95 | MMAjunkie.com

[Sakara=Excitement]

WAR Nate the Great!

[themmabooker]

This is a great fight setup by Joe Silva.

Both of these guys are coming off a decent win, with the winner of this up in the rankings in their divison.

WAR!

[atj-lucko]

already posted
http://forums.mmanews.com/general-mm...-ufc-95-a.html

[Problematique]

Marquardt takes this.

[beardown98]

So i'm sitting here eating my snack pack when i see this thread and gotta admit i wanna give joe silva a snack pack for making this fight. Both fighters coming off big wins with both winning in pretty dominating fashion. I can't wait for this fight hopefully wilson can make weight. THis has the makings of FOTN for sure

[SWIFTboy]

Lol @ the snack pack comment. Memories of Billy Madison.

This IS a great fight set up by Joe Silva. It also makes me realize that the MW division, along with Leites, Maia, Okami and Bisping, is really shapping up to be a very descent divison in the near future.

Obvs Anderson still rules the MW universe at the moment. I wouldn't mind him fighting at 205 next, and giving this division time to figure itself out. That being said, an Okami win SHOULD guarantee him a shot...seriously!

[earle]

Talent-wise, I think they're even: Gouveia has good BJJ, so does Nate (BJJ blackbelt), and both have good standup. However, you have to question Wilson's conditioning, and his heart. Nate is an animal, and my head says that with the kind of pressure he brings, he will make Wilson fold.

My heart says, Wilson has the talent, if he's well-conditioned, and can weather the early storm (and pain), he can win a standup war. For all of Nate's ferocity, Wilson is the better technical striker IMO, but then again I thought Kampmann was a better striker too, and look how that fight ended up. So until he proves he's got the heart and discipline, I can't bet on Gouveia, so:

Nate via TKO.