Keith Jardine vs. Quinton Jackson to headline UFC 96 in March

[SinCitysmallGUY]

The UFC has officially announced its first bout for the March 7 card in Columbus, Ohio.

Former UFC light heavyweight champion Quinton Jackson (29-7 MMA, 4-1 UFC), fresh off a dominant knockout victory of Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92, will meet veteran Keith Jardine (14-4-1 MMA, 6-3 UFC) in the night's main event.

The UFC officially announced the match-up during Saturday's broadcast of UFC 93.

A source close to the fighter told MMAjunkie.com (www.mmajunkie.com) that Jardine was first contacted about the fight on Thursday. Having accepted it, Jardine's camp was simply awaiting the green light from Jackson, who was apparently receptive to the idea.

Previous reports suggested Jackson would fight UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans in UFC 96's main event. Instead, Jackson will look to build toward a future bout with Evans when he meets the Team Jackson fighter's teammate, Jardine.

UFC 96 will be the third consecutive UFC event to coincide with the three-day Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus. UFC 68 in 2007 featured Randy Couture's legendary upset of then-UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia, and UFC 82 in 2008 featured Anderson Silva's successful title defense over Dan Henderson.

To allow for his fight with Jackson, Jardine's planned fight with Luiz Cane in April at UFC 97 will be scrapped. Jardine, who found his way to the UFC via "The Ultimate Fighter 2," hasn't fought since a close split-decision win over Brandon Vera in October 2008 at UFC 89.

Jackson, meanwhile, will return to action just 10 weeks after his dominant first-round knockout of Wanderlei Silva. It was a remarkable comeback for Jackson, who was arrested after a high-speed police chase a few weeks after losing his light-heavyweight title to Forrest Griffin in July 2008. He's now won seven of his past eight fights.

[Thin Lizzy]

Dana will eventually have to concede that the UFC can't follow the WWE model of having a PPV every month. If he keeps diluting the product during a recession, the UFC is going to experience a severe downturn.

I know Jardine has wins over some big names, but, he is not a headliner.

[chixlegs]

I'll be interested to see if Jardine gets paid more than the paltry 10 K he was given to fight Vanderlei Silva.  That was ridiculous.  He's out there laying it on the line against some serious guys (Liddell, Silva, now Rampage), he should be paid better than that.

[americanbulldog]

This makes NO SENSE.  If Rampage wins, he was expected to win.  If he loses, it throws a monkey wrench into the LHWT picture.  Dana criticized Pride for pitting Hendo against a sick Wandy, and yet he is allowing Joe Silva to set this up.  Seems like he wants his boy Chack to win and be back in the mix, and dump Rampage who has impending legal issues that he must face if he doesn't meet the stipulations of his parole. 

[gracie bjj]

im hoping rampage checks jardines nasty leg kicks,jardines gonna try the same game plan he used against chuck i think,try to beat up quintons legs.especially after forest hurt rampages leg with those leg kicks you know jardines camp got that in mind.i believe quinton will be ready for those kicks and everyone knows the counter to a leg kick is a quinton right hand straight down the pike to jardines jaw.i believe quinton is at another level at this point in time,hes got momentum now i believe and believes in himself whole heartidly.ive always liked rampage,alot of people turned on him when he accepted the lord in his life,i was glad he did since i try to be a god fearing man myself,i try,lol.imo quinton will have the belt back by late 2009 and hold it for a good spell

[Dball]

Ridiculous match.  No reason for it in the world.  Dana needs to scale back these once a month PPV shows to every six or eight weeks.  No one gives a crap about Rampage fighting Jardine and it can do nothing but hurt the LHW ranks right now.

[BDsauce]

Im interested in seeing the odds for this fight, cause Jardine is a live dog.

[mame09]

why the fuk isnt rampage fighting for the title

[UGMT]

Wanderlei destroys Jardine, Rampage destroys Wanderlei and now these two are meeting, I just don't get it. Sure Jardine beat Vera in a snoozefest but I don't see the logic in this one.

[Captain Equipoise]

Wanderlei destroys Jardine, Rampage destroys Wanderlei and now these two are meeting, I just don't get it. Sure Jardine beat Vera in a snoozefest but I don't see the logic in this one.

Agreed, it's pointless.

[K-1]

fight makes no sense at all. brutal 1st rd KO for jackson also. 

[The Jayhawker]

Dana will eventually have to concede that the UFC can't follow the WWE model of having a PPV every month. If he keeps diluting the product during a recession, the UFC is going to experience a severe downturn.

I know Jardine has wins over some big names, but, he is not a headliner.

DING DING DING we have a WINNER!

[gracie bjj]

Wanderlei destroys Jardine, Rampage destroys Wanderlei and now these two are meeting, I just don't get it. Sure Jardine beat Vera in a snoozefest but I don't see the logic in this one.

the fighter (A) beats fighter (B) is kinda weird,ive seen fighter (A) beat the crap out of fighter (B),then fighter (B) who just got destroyed by fighter (A) beats down a fighter that destroyed fighter (A) 2 months before.styles make fights and i admit when i first started learning about mma back in 93 i was inclined to think the same way.wandy destroyed rampage 2 times in pride,thank god for the fans and rampage that dana didnt say(rampage lost twice already to wandy so whats the point for a 3rd fight).anything can happen in a fight and at the level these guys are on its a matter of who,s on that night shape wise and also thier mental state is important on fight night.

[UGMT]

the fighter (A) beats fighter (B) is kinda weird,ive seen fighter (A) beat the crap out of fighter (B),then fighter (B) who just got destroyed by fighter (A) beats down a fighter that destroyed fighter (A) 2 months before.styles make fights and i admit when i first started learning about mma back in 93 i was inclined to think the same way.wandy destroyed rampage 2 times in pride,thank god for the fans and rampage that dana didnt say(rampage lost twice already to wandy so whats the point for a 3rd fight).anything can happen in a fight and at the level these guys are on its a matter of who,s on that night shape wise and also thier mental state is important on fight night.

Agreed, However I just feel like Rampage should be fighting Rashad or the winner of Thiago- Lyoto. I'm not a MMAth guy trust me, But I do feel like this is a bit of a pointless match and I don't know if it's the right fight to headline a card. Also Wanderlei beat Rampage in 2003 and 2004 that's already a long while ago and I hate to say it but Wanderlei is definitely in the twilight of his career at this point. I guess all I'm trying to say is there should be some kind of order when it comes to title shots. Dana already said Lyoto was in line for a shot yesterday provided he beats Thiago and he said the same thing about page when he beat Wanderlei.

[durky]

agreed too. easy money for rampage and dana is the only reason i see this fight happening.I could think of so many possible good fights with the depht of the UFC talent for a headliner, this is crap. rampage vs evans would be way nicer.

[Hedgehog]

This is bullshit.

Rampage not getting the title shot?

WTF?

Fighting a journey man like Jardine instead is a fcuking insult.


IMO, this is just some bullshit to allow Evans to hold on to the belt for a few fights.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Evans getting pitted against a wanker like Bisping (coming up into the LHW's again for one fight).

A fight with Rich Franklin is pretty likely too, with fights like Rampage-Jardine happening.

Total bullshit I tell ya.

And thus, building some kind of legacy around the LHW belt.

[20inch calves]

Ridiculous match.  No reason for it in the world.  Dana needs to scale back these once a month PPV shows to every six or eight weeks.  No one gives a crap about Rampage fighting Jardine and it can do nothing but hurt the LHW ranks right now.

i agree. this is a terrible headliner. i mean come on. this is the best the ufc can do