Keith Jardine: The Hardest Working Man in MMA, Part Two

Some critics like to look at this victory in hindsight, to devalue it on the basis that Liddell was beginning his decline. I would argue this fight did not take advantage of that decline, so much as help to cause it. Greg Jackson and Jardine had solved the riddle of Liddell.

For years, Liddell had made a career out of knocking people out as they tried to take him down. In doing this, he developed habits and strategies, as well as a confidence in his standup ability, so much so that he truly seemed to believe no one would stand up with him.

Even coming off a KO loss to Rampage Jackson, Liddell appeared to stick by these habits. As a result, Jardine was able to commit heavily to his strikes, particularly his kicks, without fear of a takedown.

He was also able to take advantage of holes in Liddell's standing defense that had developed over years of relying on his chin to counterstrike against largely grappling-based opponents.

Uncharacteristically, Jardine sat out nearly eight months after that fight, perhaps wanting to wait until a bigger challenge was available to fight him. In a bit of odd matchmaking, the challenge came, all right—Wanderlei Silva.

The former Pride Fighting Championship champion had finally made his way to the UFC, and was being put in front of Jardine. Oddly, Wanderlei was coming off a loss to Liddell, who had just prior lost to Jardine, but never one to turn down a fight, Keith stepped up to the plate.

Unfortunately, the fight was a disaster for Jardine. A known slow-starter, he was blitzed in 36 seconds by the “Axe Murderer,” and sent to the back of the line once more.

Silva caught a leg kick by Jardine in the opening seconds of the fight, and unleashed his trademark flurry of hooks, eventually pounding Keith on the canvas and forcing a referee stoppage.

Bloody and beaten, but not broken, Jardine picked himself back up from the loss and did what he does best; he got back in the gym and went to work.

Read Part Three of this article to see how Jardine rebounded from this loss!

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