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Revision as of 19:01, 13 May 2007 by Udar55 (talk | contribs) (→UFC career: added links)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Template:MMAstatsbox "The Dean of Mean" Keith Hector Jardine (born October 31, 1975) is an American mixed martial artist, currently fighting at light heavyweight for the Ultimate Fighting Championship. He made his debut with the organization on The Ultimate Fighter 2, where he was cast as a heavyweight under coach Rich Franklin.
Career
Jardine made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2001, defeating Amir Rahnavardi by armbar submission. He would win five out of his next six bouts – suffering one knockout loss to Travis Wiuff – before debuting in the Japanese Pancrase organization in 2003. Jardine's bout in Pancrase, with Keiichiro Yamamiya, ended in a draw. Jardine defeated his next two opponents – including a submission win over Red Devil Sport Club fighter, Arman Gambaryan – before appearing on The Ultimate Fighter 2.
The Ultimate Fighter
In 2005, Jardine was cast in The Ultimate Fighter 2 – a team-based reality television show created by the UFC – as a heavyweight competitor, and was the first heavyweight to be recruited to the team of UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin. Jardine was one of the favorites to proceed to the heavyweight division finals, but was not selected to fight until the semi-finals, where he was defeated by eventual season two heavyweight champion Rashad Evans.
UFC career
Although Jardine was eliminated from The Ultimate Fighter, his tenure with the Ultimate Fighting Championship would continue. Jardine made his first appearance on an official UFC fight card at the TUF 2 Finale, defeating fellow season two heavyweight Kerry Schall by technical knockout due to leg kicks. Jardine subsequently dropped down a weight class to the light heavyweight division, and defeated Mike Whitehead by unanimous decision at UFC 57.
In April, 2006, Jardine fought TUF 1 light heavyweight finalist Stephan Bonnar at Ultimate Fight Night 4. In a closely contested bout, Jardine lost a unanimous decision, but he gained a great deal of fan and media support after the bout. Quoting Jardine, "Everyone knows that that Bonnar fight should have been my fight I still get approached everyday about that. I am 3-1, but I don't necessarily look at it that way."
His next fight in the UFC was against American Top Team's Wilson Gouveia at The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale. Although Jardine appeared to lose the first round – according to color commentator Joe Rogan – he defeated Gouveia by unanimous decision after three rounds. Jardine was then scheduled to fight Mike Nickels – a light heavyweight competitor from the third season of The Ultimate Fighter – but Nickels was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.
At UFC 66, Jardine scored a technical knockout victory in the first round over winner of The Ultimate Fighter 1, Forrest Griffin.
See also
External links
Template:The Ultimate Fighter 2
Categories: