UFC 128 – Nate Marquardt refutes claims that he’s a choker, plans on proving it against Yoshihiro Akiyama

UFC middleweight contender, Nate Marquardt has hit back at recent criticism from UFC President, Dana White who labelled him a choker after losing back-to-back number one contender shootouts in 2010, saying it’s just not true of him.
Speaking via MMAFighting.com, Marquardt said:

“I don’t really pay attention to that kind of stuff. It’s just not true of me. You have to deal with that talk crap all the time and just basically brush it off. I gotta stick to what I gotta do.”

“It was definitely very disappointing to be that close and I didn’t seize the opportunity like I could have. I’m very disappointed, but at the same time, I still got a lot more time in this sport and I still believe I’m going to be the champion.”

“I don’t really pay attention to the criticism. I criticize myself enough. I listen to the instructions of my teammates, coaches. So I’m focused on what I gotta do to win this fight. I feel like I’m one of the most exciting fighters in the UFC and I feel like I will be able to prove that again.”

Sandwiched in between those losses was of course that controversial first round TKO win over talented Brazilian submission wizard, Rousimar Palhares. “The Great” is preparing himself to go head-to-head with Japanese buzz saw, Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 128 on March 19^th in Newark, New Jersey.