UFC 96: Rampage vs. Jardine

UFC 96: MARCH 7, 2009
Venue: Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio

Main Card Bouts

Quinton Jackson (4th Light Heavyweight in the World) vs. Keith Jardine (8th Light Heavyweight in the World)
Gabriel Gonzaga (8th Heavyweight in the World) vs. Shane Carwin
Matt Hamil vs. Mark Munoz
Gray Maynard vs. Jim Miller
Matt Brown vs. Pete Sell

Preliminary Bouts

Brandon Vera vs. Mike Patt
Kendall Grove vs. Jason Day
Tim Boetsch vs. Jason Brilz
Tamdan McCrory vs. Ryan Madigan
Aaron Riley vs. Shane Nelson

UFC 96 comes to us live from Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio. This event features former light heavyweight champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, as he steps back into the octagon versus Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine.

Rampage is one win away from fighting for the championship, as he looks to regain the belt that he lost last summer. Jardine looks to build himself up to the upper echelon of the division.

Rampage comes off of a devastating knockout of nemesis, Wanderlei Silva—the same man who viciously KO'd Jardine. Jardine himself is coming off of a decision victory over Brandon Vera.

The co-main event brings us Gabriel Gonzaga versus Shane Carwin in a heavyweight matchup. Gonzaga could be one win away from challenging the winner of Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar for the championship.

This matchup features two of the UFC's biggest heavyweights—both fighters are around the 255 lb mark. Gonzaga brings in vicious leg kicks and upper echelon jiu-jitsu, while Carwin brings in solid wrestling and much improved boxing skills.

Matt Hamill takes on UFC newcomer Mark Munoz who sports a 5-0 record with three TKO's. This will no doubt be a step up in competition for Munoz who spent all of 2008 competing in the WEC's light heavyweight division. Hamill comes back off of an impressive TKO of Reese Andy back at UFC 92.

Gray Maynard steps back into the octagon, after defeating Rich Clementi in his last showing to take on Jim Miller. Maynard will look to grind out another victory against the very tough Jim Miller. Miller is 13-1, hasn't lost since 2006, and comes off of a very impressive victory over Matt Wiman.

Ohio native Matt Brown will face Pete Sell in a welterweight showdown. Brown has looked solid in his post TUF outings and now looks to take down Sell. This will mark Sell's second outing at 170 lbs., since dropping down from 185 lbs. Both fighters come in off of a victory and will look to make it two in a row.

Predictions

Quinton Jackson - KO

Gabriel Gonzaga - Submission

Matt Hammil - TKO

Jim Miller - Decision

Pete Sell - Decision