MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[Sakara=Excitement]

Nate Quarry vs. Jorge Rivera in the works for UFC Fight Night 22 | MMAjunkie.com

A potential middleweight slugfest between veterans Nate Quarry (12-2 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and Jorge Rivera (17-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC) is in the works for the as-yet-unannounced UFC Fight Night 22 in March.

MMAjunkie.com (UFC blog for UFC news, UFC rumors, fighter interviews and event previews/recaps | MMAjunkie.com) has learned that the organization is targeting the matchup for the March 31 event, and at least one fighter has verbally agreed to the contest.

UFC Fight Night 22 is expected to take place in North Carolina and serve as the programming lead-in on Spike TV for the debut episode of "The Ultimate Fighter 11."

Quarry fights for the first time since a September win over Tim Credeur in a highly entertaining contest that many observers felt belonged in "2009 Fight of the Year" discussion. The win improved "Rock" to 4-1 in his past five contests. Quarry's lone loss during that stretch came to top middleweight contender Demian Maia.

A cast member of the original season of "The Ultimate Fighter," Quarry has fought on Spike TV four times during his professional career.

Meanwhile, Rivera returns to action for the first time since an October win over Rob Kimmons at UFC 104. The win was Rivera's second in a row and moved "El Conquistador" to 3-1 in his past four fights.

Rivera turns 38 in February, and after signing a new four-fight deal this past summer, the Massachusetts resident suggested to MMAjunkie.com Radio that the contract may be his last.

"I think this might be my last year," said. "I just want to buckle down, push real hard for this one year, and see what I can do."

The two fighters have 29 career wins between them, and 18 of the results have come via knockout or TKO.

The Quarry vs. Rivera fight is the first bout rumored for the March 31 card.

[KevoOnTheRadio]

A potential middleweight slugfest between veterans Nate Quarry (12-2 MMA, 7-3 UFC) and Jorge Rivera (17-7 MMA, 6-5 UFC) is in the works for the as-yet-unannounced UFC Fight Night 22 in March.

How the hell can you be 12-2 in MMA but 7-3 in the UFC. Oh well, should be a good fight.

[jlruthven84]

Good fight, should get bloody. Quarry really surprised me when he finished J-Mac as viciously as he did.

[RearNakedStroke]

Originally Posted by KevoOnTheRadio

How the hell can you be 12-2 in MMA but 7-3 in the UFC. Oh well, should be a good fight.

He technically lost a race with Starnes in the UFC that wasn't considered an MMA fight.

[Fedorlei Gomipierre]

Out of all of the potential matchups for Quarry, Rivera just doesn't make the list for me.

You've got ridiculously explosive and entertaining fighters in Irvin, Leban, Belcher, Gouvia, Grove, Cote and McFedries in the division looking for fights, so you give him a somewhat pointless bout with a guy who's really an afterthought in the division? Not to knock Rivera too much, but he's always been a ho-hum fighter in my books, whereas Quarry's the kind of FOTN guy who'll always give you a big bang on your card and I think they could give him something a little better. I think Nate'll KTFO Jorge in the first two minutes.

[macewen]

i woulda liked to see Nate and Cote. But, cheers to hoping Jorge can get the W

[NAL987]

I'm glad to see Jorge back, brings back memories of him KTFO Kendall Grove, should be a fight of the night.

[ebenn85]

It's a decent matchup quarry really doesn't get anything out of it other than a good nights pay for tko of the night. Rivera has looked better recently but Quarry is top 10ish talent and I don't see him makin it 2 rounds with quarry... Looking at whose available I would think gouveia, sexyama,palhares, or even Leben are better matchups tho!

[kalebarker]

People shouldn't count out Rivera in this fight after Credeur gave Quarry a hell of a fight on the feet.