UFC Fight Night 43 results: Nate Marquardt stuns James Te Huna with armbar
AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Nate Marquardt put the pressure on James Te Huna right away, and he never let up on his way to a main-event upset.
In his return to the middleweight division, Marquardt (33-13-2 MMA, 11-6 UFC) submitted home New Zealand favorite James Te Huna (16-8 MMA, 5-4 UFC), who was making his debut in the weight class, with a first-round armbar.
The middleweight bout was the main event of today’s UFC Fight Night 43 event at Vector Arena in Auckland, New Zealand. It streamed on UFC Fight Pass.
Marquardt swung first with a right hand, and he came behind it with several kicks. Te Huna pressed forward, though, but he ate a big knee that put him on the canvas.
Te Huna popped back up and went after a double-leg takedown. He tried to slam Marquardt, but it was the American who wound up on top trying to land short shots from Te Huna’s guard. Marquardt passed to half-guard as Te Huna already was bleeding from his forehead.
Te Huna scrambled back to his feet with three minutes left, and he landed some heavy punches in short range with Marquardt’s back against the fence. But wIth two minutes left, Marquardt tripped Te Huna to the canvas and landed in mount.
Te Huna tried to shake him off, and as he tried to sneak out the back, Marquardt latched on to his left arm. In a perfectly executed armbar, Te Huna had no choice but to tap.
The New Zealander popped to his feet and stormed to the fence, as the crowd was silenced with the upset.
“An armbar was not part of my plan. It just sort of happened,†Marquardt said.
Up-to-the-minute UFC Fight Night 43 results include:
Nate Marquardt def. James Te Huna via submission (armbar), Round 1, 4:34
Jared Rosholt def. Soa Palelei via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Charles Oliveira def. Hatsu Hioki via submission (guillotine choke) – Round 2, 4:32
Robert Whittaker def. Mike Rhodes via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Jake Matthews def. Dashon Johnson via submission (triangle choke) – Round 3, 3:16
Richie Vaculik def. Roldan Sangcha-an via unanimous decision (30-27, 29-28, 29-28)
Vik Grujic def. Chris Indich via TKO (punches) – Round 1, 4:55
Neil Magny def. Rodrigo Goiana de Lima via TKO (punches) – Round 2, 2:32
Daniel Hooker def. Ian Entwistle via TKO (elbows) – Round 1, 3:34
Gian Villante def. Sean O’Connell via split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
