luv
03-08-2009, 01:08 AM
http://sports.yahoo.com/mma/news?slug=ki-ufcearly030709&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was far from spectacular, but he pounded out a unanimous decision Saturday over Keith Jardine at UFC 96 in Nationwide Arena that landed him an even bigger prize.
Jackson will get a chance to fight Rashad Evans for the UFC light heavyweight title May 23 at UFC 98 in Las Vegas after his workmanlike victory. Two judges had it 29-28 and one had it 30-27, as did Yahoo! Sports.
A knee injury to Frank Mir forced his heavyweight title bout to be pushed back to UFC 100 in July. To fill the main event void, the UFC decided to move Evans’ title defense up to UFC 98.
“I want my belt back,” Jackson shouted to the crowd after his victory.
Jackson had difficulty catching up to Jardine, who was circling and moving away much of the night. Jackson was stronger and landed the more powerful punches.
Jackson said his plan was to go after Jardine, but he never did. Rather, he fought a controlled fight with few toe-to-toe exchanges.
“There was a lot of pressure and Keith is tough, really tough,” Jackson said. “I didn’t expect him to be that tough. The plan was to rush him, sick him like a dog.”
Jackson knocked Jardine down twice but never came close to finishing the bout on a card filled with highlight-reel knockouts.
But Jackson, who knocked out Wanderlei Silva in the first round at UFC 92 in December, was happy to get the work.
“I needed these three rounds,” he said. “My last fight only went one round. I needed that. I needed to go some rounds.”
He’ll only have a couple weeks off before he has to begin training for Evans. That became necessitated when Mir underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee Monday.
The UFC decided to move the fight to July to give Mir a chance to heal. Had Jackson lost or been involved in a brutal fight, it would have given the shot to Lyoto Machida instead at UFC 98.
Jackson came out unscathed and was clear about his intentions. He got into a nose-to-nose showdown with Evans in the cage and said, “It’s going to be black on black crime,” before stomping away.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Quinton “Rampage” Jackson was far from spectacular, but he pounded out a unanimous decision Saturday over Keith Jardine at UFC 96 in Nationwide Arena that landed him an even bigger prize.
Jackson will get a chance to fight Rashad Evans for the UFC light heavyweight title May 23 at UFC 98 in Las Vegas after his workmanlike victory. Two judges had it 29-28 and one had it 30-27, as did Yahoo! Sports.
A knee injury to Frank Mir forced his heavyweight title bout to be pushed back to UFC 100 in July. To fill the main event void, the UFC decided to move Evans’ title defense up to UFC 98.
“I want my belt back,” Jackson shouted to the crowd after his victory.
Jackson had difficulty catching up to Jardine, who was circling and moving away much of the night. Jackson was stronger and landed the more powerful punches.
Jackson said his plan was to go after Jardine, but he never did. Rather, he fought a controlled fight with few toe-to-toe exchanges.
“There was a lot of pressure and Keith is tough, really tough,” Jackson said. “I didn’t expect him to be that tough. The plan was to rush him, sick him like a dog.”
Jackson knocked Jardine down twice but never came close to finishing the bout on a card filled with highlight-reel knockouts.
But Jackson, who knocked out Wanderlei Silva in the first round at UFC 92 in December, was happy to get the work.
“I needed these three rounds,” he said. “My last fight only went one round. I needed that. I needed to go some rounds.”
He’ll only have a couple weeks off before he has to begin training for Evans. That became necessitated when Mir underwent arthroscopic surgery on his knee Monday.
The UFC decided to move the fight to July to give Mir a chance to heal. Had Jackson lost or been involved in a brutal fight, it would have given the shot to Lyoto Machida instead at UFC 98.
Jackson came out unscathed and was clear about his intentions. He got into a nose-to-nose showdown with Evans in the cage and said, “It’s going to be black on black crime,” before stomping away.