Nate Marquardt is back in the Zuffa fold.

The former UFC middleweight title challenger has been announced as a Strikeforce signing eight months after being cut from the UFC roster following a failure to obtain a license to fight Anthony Johnson at UFC on Versus 4.

The license-denial meant that the main event of the show was pulled the day before the event took place. Rick Story was drafted in to face Johnson while Marquardt was summarily dismissed by the UFC. His license had been denied as he was undergoing Testosterone Replacement Therapy but had not undertaken the correct steps to gain permission for its use from athletic commissions.

He then signed for British promotion BAMMA but never fought for the show as his debut was repeatedly pushed back. He was recently released from his contract amid rumours that BAMMA could not afford to service the financial aspect of the agreement.

His debut for Strikeforce is likely to be against Tyron Woodley, with the winner establishing himself as the lead contender for the vacant welterweight title, although the current dearth of contender-level welterweights in Strikeforce might even see the fight upgraded to a title affair.

Marquardt’s signing with Strikeforce was announced on the Tuesday edition of ‘UFC Tonight’ on FUEL TV. It was pre-empted by posts on the Twitter account of FrontRowBrian, a ticket industry agent who came to the attention of MMA fans earlier this year by breaking the news that Nick Diaz would not be able to rematch Carlos Condit immediately. It subsequently transpired Diaz had failed a drug test.