Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Jardine
Date: Jan 07, 2012
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Venue: The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Broadcast: Showtime
MAIN CARD (Showtime)
Champ Luke Rockhold vs. Keith Jardine
Adlan Amagov vs. Robbie Lawler
Lorenz Larkin vs. Muhammed "King Mo" Lawal
Jordan Mein vs. Tyron Woodley
Tarec Saffiedine vs. Tyler Stinson
PRELIMINARY CARD (Showtime Extreme)
Bobby Green vs. Alonzo Martinez
Nah-Shon Burrell vs. James Terry
Trevor Smith vs. Gian Villante
Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold is slated to defend his belt against former UFC veteran Keith Jardine on Jan. 7, MMA Fighting has confirmed with sources close to the fight. The title fight is expected to headline the organization's first event at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino.
Strikeforce has yet to officially announce the card or any fights signed for it as of Thursday evening.
Rockhold was expected to meet Tim Kennedy in his first title defense, but according to sources, Kennedy couldn't commit to the fight due to an undisclosed injury.
Rockhold (8-1) won the title in September when he defeated Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza via unanimous decision. The American Kickboxing Academy member has won his last seven fights in a row.
Jardine (17-9-2) fought Gegard Mousasi to a draw in his Strikeforce debut in April. This fight would mark his first at 185 pounds. "The Dean of Mean" is 2-1-1 since his release from the UFC in June 2010.
There's been a bit of a change of plan in Strikeforce with Luke Rockhold now slated to face Keith Jardine on January 7, 2012 according to MMA Fighting. The original rumored plans were for Rockhold to face Tim Kennedy but Kennedy is unable to take the bout as he has an undisclosed injury.
This is a shame as Keith Jardine has gone 3-6-1 since 2008, has never fought at 185 pounds and his only win of note during that span was over Brandon Vera at UFC 89.
It's hard for me to not see this as a reason that Strikeforce has very limited value in its current form. Kennedy being unavailable leaves the promotion as seeing no better option than Keith Jardine? Maybe a rematch with Jacare is too much to ask on only 5 weeks notice.
I'd just as soon see them pay Paul Daley to take a middleweight fight (a weight where he is 3-0) or give a young guy from the Strikeforce Challengers stage a shot, Adlan Amagov springs to mind as someone who would have a "it was fun while it lasted" fight. And it's not as though Keith Jardine's name carries any weight in terms of being a draw.
I also can't help but wonder if Zuffa couldn't find a mid-tier current middleweight in the UFC to send over for a brief Strikeforce run. Maybe it's a bit too deep of water for a guy like Chris Weidman, but that'd be a hell of an interesting fight.
In the end, fantasy matchmaking does nothing. Jardine is getting the shot and we'll see if he can make the most of it.
...Damn. Happened again. Keith getting brutally smashed. Taking nothing away from Rockhold, he fought well but I really wanted Keith to get some kind of glory before his time was up. I think it's time for Jardine to hang up the gloves. He's taken a backseat to too many nasty beatdowns. First time Herb Dean choked a bit. He could have stopped it a tad earlier knowing Jardine's brutal history. He was on all fours getting smashed. Maybe Keith could join in that bountyhunter reality show and make some dough. Rockhold won't hold the belt all year, somebody will snatch it from him. Overall, luke-warm night of fights. Many could have been stood up much sooner. I bet hot babes Meisha & Ronda will put on a show...
All I know is that, that flying knee to the air was the most devastating move I've ever seen. I have to give it to Robby, that was amazing. I think even Roddy Piper was impressed with that stunt. There should be an interview in Piper's Pit! Maybe Hulk Hogan can weigh in as well. :thumb02:
...Welcome new member. I'm a fossil I know it...lol! Hey--the flying knee James Irvin put on Terry Martin is one of the very best ever. If you haven't seen it, it's probably on youtube. Check it out...
That fight was hard to watch from start to finish. Uncle Dana should have one of his "Its time to hang it up" talks with Jardine. His chin is gone and his style lends itself to getting tagged in the dome.
Everytime a fighter does well in strikeforce they are immediately going to want to move to the UFC. Rockhold looked good. But he beat a guy who was cut from the UFC for a reason.
I think that is why he challenged Zuffa to bring some of the UFC fighters to Strikeforce. If they face him on his turf he'll be able to prove a point. Either that or they'll show him toughness.
I doubt anyones interested realy but what was up with these SD's on the Strikeforce event. Woodley should have been 30-27, won every round for a UD. Saffedine should have got a UD 29-28 and there was no way Burrell beat Terry. I had it 29-28 Terry.
The judges, the referees (specially Kim Winslow), hearing repeatedly the annoying voice and stupid comments of Frank Shamrock and not having any solid fight, make this show very dull.
It was brutal. The guy has potential to do more but chooses to dryhump. People talk as if GSP does that, but when you watch Woodley you'll see why so many are quick to stick up for GSP as he is 10 times more active than Woodley.
I just loved seeing Luke wipe that smug smile off of Jardines face.
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