Keith Jardine knows he wasn't the first choice to fight Quinton Jackson at UFC 96. Even if he upsets the resurgent fighter known as Rampage, Jardine doesn't want any part of the UFC's probable choice for his next bout, either.

Yet don't expect to see any reluctance or disenchantment reflected in Jardine's fighting tonight in Columbus, Ohio, where two top light heavyweights will meet in front of a sellout crowd.

Thousands of high school wrestlers and professional bodybuilders in town for a convention will see a card brimming with competitive bouts, even if the main event has a wealth of fascinating subplots outside the ring.

Jardine (14-5-1) is the final obstacle before Jackson's presumed path to another title shot, even if Jardine thinks he's "probably the third person asked to the prom on this one."

"I got a call, and I couldn't turn it down," said Jardine, the resilient 33-year-old who has beaten Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin but still has lost three of his last seven fights.

"I was excited, but they just think they're going to get a good fight from me. I like to strike, I've never been in a boring fight, and they're just throwing me out there and they expect me to put on a good show, but they don't expect me to win."

If Jackson (29-7) wins, UFC president Dana White said he will get a title shot against Rashad Evans, who won the light heavyweight crown last year by defeating Griffin, the man who took it from Jackson last summer.

Think that's complicated? If Jardine pulls the upset, he probably would have a chance for his first title shot, only he doesn't want it if it's against Evans, his longtime friend and training partner.

"Me and Rashad, we've always talked about that, and there's no way that we're going to fight afterward," Jardine said. "That's why people love this sport, because we're not businessmen. We're not like NFL players. They're trying to stay healthy and get a paycheck. We fight with all of our heart and our soul, and how are you going to go out there and give the audience what they deserve when you're fighting one of your best friends? That is just not going to happen."

Nonsense, White said. The UFC president has heard such protestations before from fighters who train in the same dojo or gym, and he doesn't think a friendship can stand in the way of the money and pride that come with a UFC title.

"I promise you they will fight each other if they keep winning," White said. "This isn't basketball. This isn't the NBA. There's no teams in this sport. These are fighters. What if Rashad holds the belt for the next three years? Is Keith just never going to take a shot at the title for the rest of his life? I don't think they're that good of friends. It's just a little game they're playing with themselves."

None of that will matter if Jardine can't upset Jackson. Although Rampage is a solid favorite, Jardine's unorthodox stand-up style and strong leg kicks present challenges that have troubled the former champion in the past.

"I'm really happy if people think I have a kick-defense problem," Jackson said. "I've been working on everything."

Jackson's roller-coaster career seems headed to another peak after his demolition of Wanderlei Silva in December, less than six months after his loss to Griffin was followed by his arrest after leading police on a chase in Costa Mesa, Calif. Jackson changed his life after the incident, embarking on the most serious training of his career in England, and has stuck to the regimen since beating Silva.

The UFC probably would have loved to match Jackson with Evans in Columbus, but Evans needed more time off after beating Griffin. Jackson wants to keep his momentum going -- and he freely admits he needs the money -- so he signed up to take on Jardine in what he hopes will be a bridge to a summer title shot.

"After my performance with Forrest, I've been so ashamed of myself," Jackson said. "Every fight, I'm motivated to go out there and look good and win, because I know what type of fighter I am. I was really disappointed in myself for letting it (get) to that point where I'm not motivated, and I get it in my head that all of these guys are easy.

"There's no more easy fights. I'm motivated to train hard every time."

Source: ReviewJournal.com

A planned rematch between UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar and interim UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir (picture) for UFC 98 on May 23 that would have unified both title has been canceled.

The UFC was recently informed by Mir's camp that he was forced to withdraw due to his injury. Mir suffered a knee injury and has already undergone surgery. The surgery will sideline the former strip club bouncer for the next four to six weeks.

There is no rumor as to whether Lesnar will remain on the card against a new opponent or if he will be taken off the card entirely.

The UFC had just officially announced Lesnar vs. Mir II by UFC.com earlier this week. The much-anticipated rematch had been anticipated to draw a large buyrate on PPV.

The first meeting at between Lesnar and Mir took place at UFC 81 in February of 2008 and ended at 1:30 of Round 1 after Lesnar was caught in a kneebar by Mir. Competing in just his second professional bout, the former WWE superstar was forced to tap despite the fact that he had knocked Mir down and was reigning down punches on him just prior to getting trapped in the submission hold.

Lesnar and Mir had been slated to fight each again other after both secured wins in the first round of a heavyweight title unification tournament. However, a Lesnar vs. Mir rematch in the finals of the tournament had been considered an improbability going in.

But the odds of a second fight between the two changed greatly after Lesnar won the heavyweight title from defending champion Randy Couture this past November at UFC 91. Couture, fighting for the first time after a 15 month layoff was TKO'd by the former WWE Champion at 3:07 of Round 2.

The rematch between Lesnar and Mir became a reality following Mir's upset victory over defending interim heavyweight champion Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira at UFC 92 this past December. Displaying improved stand-up, Mir was able to TKO the former PRIDE FC Heavyweight Champion at 1:54 of Round 2.

Meanwhile, several reports have been published recently attributing quotes to UFC President Dana White claiming that a planned UFC 98 main event between Lesnar and Mir was still on.

In a report by Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, a quote is attributed to White in which the UFC President denied any knowledge of a Mir injury.

"UFC President Dana White said after the weigh-in for UFC 96 at the Nationwide Arena that he knew nothing of an injury by Mir," wrote Iole, who later reported in his story that sources close to Mir had confirmed that the interim UFC Heavyweight Champion underwent knee surgery last week.

During a bodybuilding webcast conducted at a fitness expo in the Columbus area held in conjunction with this weekend's "Arnold Classic", Mir responded to a question about the date of the fight at the 1:26 mark by saying, "Hopefully the summertime. It was May 23 but I needed to get a scope done to my knee so I got it done immediately last week. It would be rushing it to try and fight that soon because I can't really train for four to six weeks as far as sparring and wrestling and the real forms of training. Obviously I can hit the treadmill but that's usually not a good idea to be getting in shape for a fight on a treadmill."

While the UFC has yet to make a public announcement regarding the cancellation of Lesnar vs. Mir II at UFC 98, it is already exploring options for a replacement main event bout. One scenario believed to be under consideration is moving Rashad Evans' first defense of his UFC light heavyweight title that had been planned for UFC 100 on July 12.

DREAM announced today the fight order for DREAM.7. Masakazu Imanari versus Atsushi Yamamoto bout will serve as the main event.

DREAM.7 ~ Featherweight Grand Prix 2009 1st Round ~
Date: March 8, 2009
Place: Saitama Super Arena, Saitama, Japan

Fight Card:

• Takafumi Otsuka vs. Bibiano Fernandes (Featherweight GP)

• Chase Beebe vs. Joe Warren (Featherweight GP)

• Akiyo "Wicky" Nishiura vs. Abel Cullum (Featherweight GP)

• Mitsuhiro Ishida vs. Daisuke Nakamura (Welterweight one match)

• Shinya Aoki vs. David Gardner (Welterweight one match)

• Tatsuya Kawajiri vs. Ross Ebanez (Lightweight one match)

• Yoshiro Maeda vs. Micah Miller (Featherweight GP)

• Hiroyuki Takaya vs. Kim Jong-won (Featherweight GP)

• Masakazu Imanari vs. Atsushi Yamamoto (Featherweight GP)

UFC middleweight Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva recently told UK's Fighters Only magazine that he would like the last fight of his career to be against his long-term rival Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

"I don't have a problem with him, but I want to fight with him again. I want to fight him now and maybe I want to fight with him again in my final year," Silva said. "This history don't stop."

Silva won the first two matches against Jackson when they both fought for Japan's PRIDE Fighting Championships. Meanwhile, Jackson dramatically beat Silva in in their third bout at UFC 92.

Silva maintains that he doesn't have a problem with Jackson and the aggression is all apart of the preparation for the fight. "This is a depression for the fight, you know? This is not fake, this is not just for promotion. With the depression you have more emotion, the emotions come and... emotion is emotion no?" he explained.

"But I don’t have a problem with him. I saw him and spoke with him (at UFC 95 in London). I shook his hand."

Las Vegas, NV (USA) – Long considered the most prestigious title in mixed martial arts, the UFC Heavyweight Championship currently rests in the hands of two men – Champion Brock Lesnar and interim belt holder Frank Mir. On Saturday, May 23rd, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, Lesnar and Mir will meet to not only determine an Undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion, but to settle some very personal business they began in this same city over a year ago.

"Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir put on one of the most intense one round fights I've ever seen at UFC 81," said UFC President Dana White, referring to Mir's submission victory over Lesnar in February of 2008. "But when it was over, both guys saw things very differently. Lesnar blamed his loss on inexperience and being too aggressive, while Mir saw his win as a triumph of his technique, something he says will happen every time they fight. On May 23rd, each fighter has his chance to prove his point, and while a lot has happened for these two since that first fight, I know the rematch is going to be just as intense as the first one, especially considering that the winner walks away as the UFC Heavyweight Champion."

Tickets for UFC 98: LESNAR VS. MIR 2 priced at $800, $600, $400, $250, $125 and $75, not including applicable service charges, go on sale Saturday, March 7 at 10 a.m. at all Las Vegas Ticketmaster locations (select Smith's Food and Drug Centers and Ritmo Latino). Ticket sales are limited to eight (8) per person. To charge by phone with a major credit card, call Ticketmaster at (800) 745-3000. Tickets also are available for purchase at www.ufc.com, www.mgmgrand.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

UFC® Fight Club™ members will have the opportunity to purchase tickets to this event Thursday, March 5 at 10 a.m. PT via the website ufc.com. A special Internet ticket pre-sale will be available to UFC newsletter subscribers Friday, March 6 starting at 10 a.m. PT. To access this presale, users must register for the UFC newsletter through ufc.com.

UFC 98: LESNAR vs. MIR 2 will be available live on pay-per-view on iN DEMAND, DIRECTV, DISH Network, TVN, Bell ExpressVu, Shaw Communications and Viewer's Choice Canada for a suggested retail price of $44.95 for standard definition or high-definition broadcasts (where available).

A gifted athlete with the size, speed, and power to impose his will on any opponent, 6-3 ½, 265 pound Brock Lesnar (3-1) made an immediate impact in the UFC when he debuted in February of 2008. A four-time All-American, two-time Big Ten Champion, and 2000 NCAA Division I National Champion in wrestling, Lesnar made a name for himself internationally after college as a professional wrestler, but he soon found his calling in mixed martial arts in 2006. After a 69 second win in his pro debut a year later, Lesnar entered the UFC in 2008 and was seconds away from victory against former heavyweight champ before a stoppage in the action for a point deduction allowed Mir to come back and submit the newcomer moments afterwards. But at UFC 87 in August of 2008, Lesnar showed why he was a force to be reckoned with by dominating Heath Herring, and by November 15, the ever improving Minnesotan shocked the world when he TKOd one of the greatest heavyweights of all time, Randy "The Natural" Couture. Now firmly entrenched on the top of the heavyweight division, Lesnar wants to even the score with Mir.

"I'm delighted to have a rematch against Frank Mir," said Lesnar. "I can't wait to get my revenge and finish this fight on the ground the way it should have been finished last time."

Many believe that 29-year old Las Vegan Frank Mir (12-3) was destined for stardom the moment he stepped in the UFC Octagon, and he lived up to all expectations when he submitted Tim Sylvia in 50 seconds in 2004 to win the UFC Heavyweight Championship. Unfortunately, Mir's career ground to a halt when a serious motorcycle accident later that year forced him to the sidelines for almost two years. His eagerness to return forced him into some spotty performances when he stepped back into the Octagon in 2006, but at UFC 74 in August of 2007, Mir was back in top notch form as he submitted Antoni Hardonk in just 77 seconds. He followed that pivotal win with a come-from-behind victory over Brock Lesnar at UFC 81 in February of 2008, but it wasn't until UFC 92 on December 27, 2008 that Mir came all the way back, as he became the first man to stop the legendary Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira at UFC 92, en route to regaining the interim portion of the championship he never lost in the Octagon. On May 23rd, the 6-3, 240 pound Mir has the opportunity to once again reign as the undisputed title holder.

"Brock Lesnar has been calling for a rematch with me ever since I beat him the first time," said Mir. "All I can say to Brock is be careful what you wish for because I'm a better, smarter, stronger, and faster fighter than I was the last time. He won't be able to push me around like he's done smaller opponents, and I'm looking forward to becoming undisputed champion again."

Source: UFC.com

Indonesia's Chris "The Dragon" John (picture) retained his title and remained undefeated by fighting to a draw with United States' hometown hero Rocky Juarez in the World Boxing Association (WBA) featherwight title bout at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.

All three judges scored the fight 114-114 after all three gave the 11th and 12th round to Juarez, calling it a draw to leave Chris John unbeaten with the crown after his American debut and Juarez still winless in his world title bouts.

"I thought I won the fight," Chris John said. "What can I say? I won by points, but, what can I say? He's a tough fighter. He showed his strength in the last rounds."

Chris John went to 42-0 with two draws while Juarez had his first draw after 28 wins and four losses, his only losses and the draw coming in his title bouts.

Juarez staggered Chris John in the last seconds of the 11th round and tagged the champion with a left hook one minute into the last round and the two traded hard punches to the final bell as the crowd screamed in delight.

"I knew in the later rounds I had to pick it up. I went hard in the later rounds," Juarez said. "I thought I won the fight."

Chris John threw almost 400 more punches but the 29-year-old Semarang, Central Java, resident was denied a ninth win in a row.

"I thought I won the fight. I gave up the middle rounds, but it was a great show," Juarez said. "I wanted to bring the title to my hometown. He fought a good smart fight, but it was my fault in the middle rounds that I lost."

Both fighters began with a fast, intense pace. Juarez worked to Chris John's body while the Indonesian answered with a variety of jabs and solid rights, swelling Juarez's left eye in a third round where Chris John picked up the pace.

Chris John opened a cut over Juarez's left eye in the fifth round and used superior footwork to elude the Sydney Olympic silver medalist time and again, coming at Juarez from different angles and asserting control of the fight.

Juarez pressed the attack in the eighth round but John answered in the ninth with great flurries, hammering the challenger with an inside right to the head and a powerful left uppercut in his best combination. Before the closing rounds, Chris John seems to be a clear winner, but in the last two rounds, all three judges awarded Juarez with victories in their scores causing Juarez and "The Dragon" to tie in one of Juarez's best fights of his career.

"I might have given up some of the middle rounds. That's my fault," Juarez said. "The cut had a little to do with it. I just laid back in the middle rounds."

Chris John, who's also a former member of Indonesian national wushu team, would not rule out a rematch but served notice, "I'm ready for all."

In the main event match, Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez defeated reigning International Boxing Organization (IBO) Lightweight Champion and former WBA, International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) Lightweight Champion Juan Diaz by knockout.

Diaz pressed the action early in the bout as the two exchanged punches at a rapid pace. Diaz opened a cut above Marquez's right eye in the fifth round and looked to be wearing down the elder Marquez, but Marquez responded by opening a gash above Diaz's right eye and stunning him with a left hook before the end of the eighth round.

Marquez landed two hard rights to Diaz's face in a three-punch combination that knocked Diaz to the canvas with 35 seconds remaining in the ninth round. Diaz rose, but seconds later, Marquez followed with a right uppercut to the chin that knocked him down for the second time.

Referee Rafael Ramos waved an end to the fight after two minutes and 40 seconds of the ninth round. With the victory, Marquez defended his Ring Magazine lightweight title and claimed the IBO, WBO, and WBA lightweight titles.