Marquardt, Okami Cleared for UFC 122

Two of the world’s premier middleweights are one step closer to potential bloodshed.

Nate Marquardt tipped the scales at 186 pounds in advance of his showdown with Yushin Okami (185) in the UFC 122 “Marquardt vs. Okami” main event on Saturday at the Konig Pilsener Arena in Oberhausen, Germany. The eight other men populating the main card, including co-headliners Jorge Rivera (185) and Alessio Sakara (186), also met their mandated weight requirements at Friday’s official weigh-in.

Rooted at the Grudge Training Center, a Jackson’s Mixed Martial Arts affiliate, Marquardt last appeared at UFC Fight Night 22 in September, when he stopped Brazilian leglock specialist Rousimar Palhares on first-round punches at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas. A violent finisher, the 31-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has secured 23 of his 30 career victories by knockout, technical knockout or submission. Marquardt, a former middleweight King of Pancrase, owns notable wins over 2006 Pride Fighting Championships welterweight grand prix winner Kazuo Misaki, Xtreme Couture Mixed Martial Arts representative Martin Kampmann and 2007 Abu Dhabi Combat Club Submission Wrestling World Championships winner Demian Maia.

Okami owns an impressive 9-2 mark inside the UFC and has rattled off consecutive wins since his unanimous decision defeat to Chael Sonnen at UFC 104 in October 2009. The 29-year-old Japanese standout has not competed since he earned a split nod over Mark Munoz at UFC Live 2 in August. Victories against American Kickboxing Academy stalwart Mike Swick, “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 3 semi-finalist Kalib Starnes, Duke Roufus protégé Alan Belcher and 2003 ADCC Submission Wrestling World Championships absolute division winner Dean Lister anchor Okami’s resume. In 30 professional appearances, he has been finished only once.

UFC 122 -- which Spike TV will air via same-day tape delay at 9 p.m. ET -- will also feature a light heavyweight duel pitting “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 8 semi-finalist Krzysztof Soszynski (206) against Croatian export Goran Reljic (205), a welterweight tilt pairing “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 winner Amir Sadollah (170) with Peter Sobotta (169) and a lightweight matchup between Dennis Siver (155) and “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 9 finalist Andre Winner (155).

UFC 122 “Marquardt vs. Okami”
Saturday, Nov. 13
Konig Pilsener Arena
Oberhausen, Germany

Nate Marquardt (186) vs. Yushin Okami (185)
Alessio Sakara (186) vs. Jorge Rivera (185)
Krzysztof Soszynski (206) vs. Goran Reljic (205)
Amir Sadollah (170) vs. Peter Sobotta (169)
Dennis Siver (155) vs. Andre Winner (155)
Vladimir Matyushenko (205) vs. Alexandre Ferreira (204)
Rob Kimmons (184) vs. Kyle Noke (185)
Karlos Vemola (205) vs. Seth Petruzelli (205)
Duane Ludwig (170) vs. Nick Osipczak (171)
Kris McCray (171) vs. Carlos Eduardo Rocha (170)
Pascal Krauss (170) vs. Mark Scanlon (170)