Julian Marquez: No Worries, No Fears After 25-Month Hiatus

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As he continues along in what has been a 25-month hiatus to heal a torn latissimus dorsi muscle, it would be understandable if Julian Marquez had concerns about his Octagon return, be it fears of ring rust, or concerns if his body will hold up through fight night. Yet the 30-year-old has no such fears. That’s because Marquez does not subscribe to the idea of ring rust, nor that he can’t trust his rehabilitated back in his eventual return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

“Look, there’s always going to be concerns when you go out there. We can nitpick, and we can say all this stuff, but I don’t care. I don’t care [about striking]. I don’t care if it goes to the ground. [Or] if we decide to grow wings, fly up and become two birds that are fighting outside the cage. It doesn’t matter where it goes,” Marquez told Sherdog. “The ring rust, it doesn’t matter. You know what happens with ring rust? Those are people who weren’t training. That are sitting there on the side [and] made excuses. This is the thing. I didn’t make excuses. I am more emotionally, mentally and physically stronger and prepared for this matchup.”

In his conversation with Sherdog, the UFC middleweight detailed the injury he suffered in July of 2018 and his long road to recovery. Also, if the time away from the sport was difficult financially and his November matchup with Saparbek Safarov. Plus, he spoke about his podcast with adult film star Kendra Lust.