Better Leites Than Never

By: Chad Edward Posted On: March 11, 2008 at 7:03pm

After two false starts, Brazilian Thales Leites (12-1) and American Nathan Marquardt (26-7-2) will clash horns at UFC 85 on 7 June in London.

The two middleweights were originally matched for 77, but Leites failed to score a visa for the fight. Then, Leites pulled out of the second matchup at 81 last month with a broken hand.

Marquardt fought on with late replacement “Gumby” Jeremy Horn (79-17-5) and survived a first round near-gogo to guillotine choke Horn to submission at 1:37 of round two.

Leites hasn’t fought since last August when he tapped Ryan Jensen (11-3) 3:47 into the first set.