UFC Norfolk Results: Cezar Ferreira defeats Nate Marquardt via split-decision

A middleweight scrap between Nate Marquardt and Cezar Ferreira took place on tonight’s UFC Fight Night main card in Norfolk.

Round one begins and Marquardt quickly takes the center of the octagon. Cezar fires off a low kick that connects. He attempts another but Nate is able to avoid the strike. Marquardt leaps in with a left hand. Cezar returns fire with a low kick. Marquardt is utilizing a lot of forward pressure early. “Mutante” lands a right hand followed by a low kick. Nate fires back with a low kick of his own. Cezar just misses with a straight left. He presses forward with a head kick but Nate blocks it rather easily. Marquardt misses with a right hand and eats a left. Cezar connects with a solid kick to the body. Nate circles out. Cezar with another solid low kick. Nate counters with a right hand that connects. Cezar tries to go upstairs with a head kick but it is blocked. Nate has a cut over his right eye. Cezar is also bleeding from a cut on the bridge of his nose. Cezar with another low kick that connects. Nate connects with a hard outside low kick that briefly sends Cezar to the canvas. Ferreira gets back up and Nate lands another good kick. Marquardt with a right hand. Round one comes to an end.

Round two begins and Nate presses forward with a body head combination. He shoots in and presses Cezar against the cage. Nate has double under hooks and is looking for a trip takedown. Cezar avoids, breaks free and then circles out. Marquardt with a right hand. Cezar shoots in and uses a single leg to press Nate against the cage. Ferreira eventually gets Nate down but the former Strikeforce champ quickly pops back up. Two minutes remain. Cezar with a kick to the body. Nate replies with a nice counter right hand. Ferreira with a hard low kick followed by a straight right. Cezar circles and then comes in with a spinning back fist that misses. Nate is looking to counter but just misses with a right. Cezar lands a pair of hard low kicks. Nate replies with one of his own. Cezar connects with a big left hook. Nate responds with a right hand over the top. Another shot from Marquardt and he drops Cezar. Ferreira gets back up and the horn sounds to end round two.

Round three begins and Cezar shoots in and lands a double leg takedown. This is not good for Marquardt who may have stole round two with that knockdown. Cezar is working some short shots to the body. He has Nate pressed against the cage. More body shots from Cezar. Marquardt scrambles and gets back to his feet. There is a mad scramble and Cezar has Nate presses back up against the cage. He slams Nate to the floor and then moves immediately to side control. He begins working some short strikes from the position. Nate is able to scramble and winds up on top with under a minute to go in the final round. Marquardt with some big shots. He lands an elbow that busts Cezar wide open. There is blood everywhere as the horn sounds to end round three.

Cezar Ferreira defeats Nate Marquardt via split-decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28)