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The 2016 UFC calendar still has some big fight cards to come, but already the UFC is hard at work putting together matchups for early 2017.



Sources close to FloCombat have confirmed a matchup between Sam Alvey (29-8) and Nate Marquardt (35-16-2) is being targeted for UFC on Fox 23 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado, on January 28.



Alvey is coming off a busy but successful 2016, having fought four times and won three since June 18. Alvey was coming off a long layoff due to a broken jaw suffered in training and was beaten on his return by Elias Theodorou via unanimous decision.



The ginger-haired American quickly put that loss behind him and followed up with three wins against Eric Spicely, Kevin Casey, and most recently Alex Nicholson, who he fought back at UFC Fight Night Mexico City earlier this month. Alvey will be looking for his 30th professional win on January 28, but if he is to do that he must face another highly experienced man in Marquardt.



Marquardt will also enter the contest off the back of a win after beating Tamdan McCrory via KO back on October 1. Prior to that, some had suggested that the 37-year-old's days were numbered in the organization, having gone 1-3 in his previous four bouts with losses to Brad Tavares, Kelvin Gastelum, and Thiago Santos offset by a sole win over C.B. Dollaway.



With both Alvey and Marquardt having a combined 29 knockout finishes between them, don't expect this one to go the distance when the two lock horns in Denver.