UFC 89: Jardine Edges Vera in SD

Fighters.com’s eighth-ranked light heavyweight “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine (14-4-1) edged “The Truth” Brandon Vera (9-3) in a split decision by judges scores of 29-28 twice for Jardine and 29-28 once for Vera at UFC 89 in Birmingham Saturday night.

After a Jardine takedown to begin round one, Vera opened a cut on Jardine’s head with elbows from his guard.  The referee stood the fighters and Vera rattled Jardine with an uppercut; but, Jardine countered with a right hand that dropped Vera to a knee and Jardine beat-up Vera at the cage as the bell sounded.

Jardine began round two scoring with leg kicks until Vera took Jardine down and landed two crushing knees.  Jardine worked his way up, but caught a Vera body kick.

In round three, Jardine rushed face-first into a left hook, then caught another kick to the body.  Jardine clinched with Vera, maneuvered to to Vera’s back, and landed a barrage of right hands.  Vera wrestled away and landed a left hook.  The fighters searched, sometimes frantically, to seal the deal with a big shot, but the bell dinged with both fighters on their feet.

With the win, Jardine erased the memory of his 36-second knockout to seventh-ranked “Axe Murderer” Wanderlei Silva (32-8-1) at UFC 84 in Las Vegas 4 May.

“I’m sure I’m going to get another top ten guy real soon,” said Jardine after the win.  “So, no easy fights for me.  I’ve got to get back to work.”

Once boasting that he could hold titles at heavyweight and light heavyweight, Vera finds himself at a crossroads, having lost his last two fights versus top ten heavyweight opposition and, now, having lost his first fight versus a top ten 205er.