Marquardt issues statement after UFC 188 loss: 'I trust that God has a plan for me and it's in the UFC'

Nate "The Great" Marquardt didn't live up to his nickname on Saturday against Kelvin Gastelum.

Barraged by an array of combinations and damaging ground-and-pounds, The Great's safety was jeopardized Saturday, and corner coach Trevor Wittman tossed the white flag to protect his fighter.

The result left the UFC community wondering what was next for 36-year-old, with many believing retirement was imminent.

That's not necessarily the case, however, as Marquardt clarified his future in a statement on his website Monday. The veteran began by explaining the challenges he faced ahead of the brawl:

"The day of the fight, I was dealing with some issues," he said. "I got some sickness and was dehydrated and cramping in my muscles. Before the fight I threw up and had abdominal cramping. Also I had an issue with my blood pressure probably due to the altitude."

Marquardt assured he wasn't giving excuses for the loss, attributing the 23-year-old as the better fighter, but did include his plans for the future.

"Congrats to Kelvin. He's a great fighter and I hope to train with him someday. I trust that God has a plan for me and it's in the UFC for sure from what he's shown me."

Until then, the High Altitude Martial Arts member will take a step back from The Octagon and fighting, in general, for the birth of his child.