Jackson vs Jardine at UFC 96 May Help with UFC 98

It is not too soon to speculate that UFC 98 is now in need of a championship match. With Quinton "Rampage" Jackson facing off vs "The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine tomorrow at UFC 96, why do they have a say for UFC 98?

As reported earlier by sources sited by yours truly just moments ago, all signs point to Frank Mir Vs Brock Lesnar being cancelled from the UFC 98 card. There are a few theories I have calculated, some of which have to do with this very match. These theories have all been due to the UFC's announcement regarding Jackson's pending title shot.

The UFC has stated and advertised that if Rampage wins, he will get the next shot at newly crowned Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans. If he does not win, Lyoto Machida will be given the shot instead, after destroying Thiago Silva, who at the time was undefeated as well, at UFC 94.

UFC 98 Las Vegas will be lacking a championship main event now that Mir will be out. Since the injury will only sideline Mir 4-6 weeks, it is highly likely that the UFC will put the match-up on hold rather than scramble to find a lest second replacement.

In the land of the UFC Heavyweight Division, one can truly say there is no clear cut No. 1 contender after the Lesnar/Mir match-up.

On top of it all, Las Vegas is a perrenial haven for championship matches with regards to the UFC. Very rarely, if ever, has there been a UFC card in Vegas not entitled Fight Night or Ultimate Fighter Finale that has not included a championship match. One would be hard pressed to find one since Dana White and Joel Silva had anything to say about it.

With that being said, my theories for the main event of UFC 98

The Lyoto Theory: If Keith Jardine manages to beat the heavily favored Rampage Jackson and end his quest to regain the title, Lyoto Machida will become the No. 1 contender, again. It may be a little fast, but Evans vs Machida at UFC 98 is very likely.

Combined with the strong card that UFC 98 currently has with Sean Sherk vs Frankie Edgar, Yushin Okami vs Dan Miller and Matt Hughes vs Matt Serra, it could possibly happen.

The Rampage KO Theory: Another possible scenario but unlikely event is if Rampage manages to take out Jardine in a quick and stunning fashion. Rampage becomes the No. 1 contender and since he is "unscathed" he has a quick turnaround and Jackson vs Evans is on for UFC 98. Obviously more unlikely but quite possible still.

The Pitbull Rush Theory: Georges St. Pierre vs Thiago Alves Welterweight Championship match is tentatively scheduled for UFC 100, in Las Vegas, NV as well, on July 11th. One might say that Alves vs GSP at UFC 98 instead may be a little sooner than anticipated, but still quite possibly manageable.

If they bump this fight up to UFC 98, the can easily put the Light Heavyweight Championship pitting Evans versus either Rampage or Machida or the rescheduled Lesnar vs Mir rematch for the Heavyweight Championship at UFC 100.

There is also plenty of time to "stack" the UFC 100 card as it is to be a "landmark" event. The most unlikely of the three scenarios. but still quite possible.

Bottom line is that a substitution match instead of a replacement for Mir will actually help the UFC Heavyweight Division. The winner of Gabriel Gonzaga vs Shane Carwin will undoubtedly fall in line to be a top contender for the title.

With Cheick Kongo competing at UFC 97, the winner of Carwin/Gonzaga could easily face off against a victorious Kongo, possibly under the new Lesnar vs Mir card, possibly at UFC 100, 101, or 102.

This will also allow time for the Randy Couture vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira fight to come to fruition and play out, allowing the UFC to determine the impact of that fight, if any, on the Heavyweight Division Title picture.