Who remembers when Nate was elite...?

[mkt]

He's gone between competitive and borderline elite most of his career. He had one shot at the title and got ragdolled by Bendo....the same Bendo who now looks terrible. His lack of wrestling and physical strength has been his greatest downfall, IMO. And of course he doesn't check leg kicks, just like all the other Cesar Gracie fighters.

 

[Towerworld]

the roundhouse->backfist-> right hook was so badass.
Just a real fighter throw everything and the entire kitchen at your opponent to KO him, kill or be killed.

 

[TriangleMonkey]

Silva cut through him like hot knife through butter in his peak

That stopped a lot of his steam

 

[DaWrassler007]

I know many on these forums don’t remember Marquardt when he was elite, but he had some vicious finishes to many legit fighters to his credit. I was always a fan because he reminded me of my big GI Joe doll from the 70’s when I was a kiddo. He was an old school fighter who let his work in the cage speak for itself. He had 56 pro fights with 28 between UFC and SF, never turned down or Cherri-picked opponents and win, lose, or draw always presented himself as a true martial artist should (humble/respectful/grateful)
He was usually exciting to watch and would often smash muther fuggers and add to his HL reel

While I’m at it here are his top finishes, Nate was savage.

Yes he’s been on the opposite end of some HL reel KO’s and I’m sure in Sherdog fashion those will be posted shortly below. He also screwed the pooch a few times like the AJ fight and his subsequent release. However he did his time in the feeder orgs and gave us that gem Woodley smashing and made it back to the big show. It that was a different era in MMA to all you zero-defect SJW’s who will claim he was a cheat, everyone was a cheat in that era, even allegedly Bisping...

War Nate the Great...!!!

Nate 2.0!!!

 

[cmw43]

Remember the Pancrase days when he was pretty much just a grappler? Gradually he started knocking guys out as well

When he joined with the UFC he was still primarily a grappler

Nate's been boxing since he could lace up the gloves.

 

[SeattleFightFan]

Silva cut through him like hot knife through butter in his peak

That stopped a lot of his steam

it's quite evident that he was never one of those 'best of the best' fighters.

but he had longevity. almost 20 years of fighting. he spent most of it in a top 20 area, maybe half in the top 10. even a few years in top 5.

but very little time in top 3. he's like Bisping that way, but he started earlier when MMA was less professional, peaked earlier of course, and with much more inconsistency than Michael ever had.

 

[Wariowokecancel]

What's a Cherri picked opponent?

That a girl from your local strip club?

Because no fucking way that any shit auto-corrects to Cherri with a capital C.

 

[SKITZADACTYL]

prime marquardt was no fucking joke.


dude stayed around way too long though, got so fucking depressing.

 

[UhHuhSure]

PrePreUSADA Nate was a badass

 

[SKITZADACTYL]

Okami is elite then. Beat prime Hector, prime Marquardt, and prime Munoz.

yeah, prime okami was elite.

dude was top 10 for most of his career really.

 

[fractal]

Loved Nate back in the day. Whooped a lot of guys and got that sweet KO on Woodley. Too bad he had to get off PEDs.

 

[Papa Shaun]

Thought this thread was about Nate Diaz. Already had a gif and a witty comment ready to derail it. Left disappointed.

Naw....I knew it wasn't Nate Diaz when I read the thread title.."Who remembers when Nate was elite?" Cause when it comes Nate Diaz......I don't..........

 

[MMA Maine-iac]

Silva cut through him like hot knife through butter in his peak

That stopped a lot of his steam

He gained a lot back after the Maia fight, but then got Chaeled. Seems like it went downhill after that.

 

[Davey Crockett]

Tekken Combos Nate is on the MMA Mount Rushmore for shure

 

[Ozze]

He was a household name. Someone I would tune in to see fight.

 

[MillingMeSoftly]

I remember

I think he beat vitor too


he was effectively on a 5 fight win streak in the UFC after his first title shot and then lost to Chael

Horn
Leites
Kampmann
Gouveia
Maia

 

[Xtal]

My favorite KO:

 

[Phisher]

PrePreUSADA Nate was a badass

Nate popped multiple times even before USADA came on board and tried to abuse the TUE rules before that stupidity was banned from the sport.

He was a beast in his prime, but he was also a massive drug cheat.

 

[NotoriousMillions]

Lmao at all the virgin Sherdorks itching at a chance to knock Diaz to knock Conor. Pathetic.

 

[Just Creed]

You got many of us ts, well done