UFC 102: Keith Jardine to replace Forrest Griffin against Thiago Silva on August 29
by Jesse Holland on Apr 29, 2009 9:50 AM EDT
73 comments
Perennial light heavyweight contender Keith Jardine (14-5-1) has been tapped to replace Forrest Griffin in a 205-pound slugfest against hard-hitting Brazilian import Thiago Silva (13-1) at UFC 102 from The Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon, on August 29, MMAmania.com has learned.
Griffin and Silva were originally set to hook 'em up at UFC 101 in Philadelphia on August 8 -- until the bat phone rang in Joe Silva's office and demanded that Anderson Silva redeem himself for consecutive stand-and-bland performances at UFC 90 and 97.
Thiago was temporarily left without a date for the prom, but the UFC made good on their swap by pitting him against the "Dean of Mean," as well as a few extra weeks to prepare for his new foe.
Despite dropping a close unanimous decision to former light heavyweight champ Quinton Jackson at UFC 96, the Greg Jackson-disciple has done his share to be atop the 205-pound ladder, putting together a solid record of (6-4) during his time in the Octagon. His resume is highlighted with wins over some of the top names in the sport such as Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell, Brandon Vera and others.
His next appearance at UFC 102 will continue his (mis?)fortune of drawing dangerous opponents.
Silva has made a habit of demolishing his challengers. Before getting stopped at UFC 94 "St. Pierre vs. Penn 2″ by uber-enigma Lyoto Machida on January 31, Silva had finished 12 of his 13 fights, including 10 (T)KO’s.
Scary stuff.
Silva brings the fierce Chute Boxe aggression into his fights (even though he is now no longer with the camp). He has an explosive mix of punches and kicks, which can often leave him open to counter strikes.
However, Silva has proven that he can take punishment and dish out more … just ask Tomasz Drwal, Houston Alexander and Antonio Mendes.
UFC 102 is expected to feature a main event between Randy "The Natural" Couture as he locks horns with Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira in a dream match-up that most fans expected to see at UFC 98 on May 23 before Brock Lesnar and Frank Mir played spoiler roles in the opening round of the mini heavyweight tournament created in late 2008 to crown an undisputed division champion.
Jardine, Silva, Couture and Nogueira. UFC 102 is beginning to shape up quite nicely — and we’re still four months away.
For more on UFC 102 click here.
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agreed~ i feel jardine is going to give thiago a taste of what its like to fight 2 legit lhw fighters back to back. no more easy fights.
i had posted it in another thread~ but i really do like the switch.
while i was still looking forward to thaigo/griffin~
i cant complain about griffin/andy~ and now having thiago fight jardine..
both great matchups in my eyes..
~andy tko
~jardine tko
by stinky~fingers on Apr 29, 2009 9:58 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jardine/Silva is the match I wanted, just wanted it to be Anderson.
.
Stinky, you in on the suite at 101?
you in oakland? wanna play poker today?
by kevin on Apr 29, 2009 10:29 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
naah ill be up a little closer then u guys..maybe i will pop in?
im not in oakland today.. i have been on the eastcoast alot.
im trying to by a house out here~ and its been taking forever.
thanks anyway player~
by stinky~fingers on Apr 29, 2009 11:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
alright buddy. my dad has a 8000 sq ft house in MA for sale, just under a million. let me know!
by kevin on Apr 29, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hey stink, by the way, these suites are lower level suites, not the nose bleed luxury boxes. go check out the wachovia center web site or ask some of these guys, they are really good suites. I’ve been in a similar one before, they are great!
by kevin on Apr 29, 2009 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hope they paint Jardine as the underdog, could be a nice money maker.
by Punch You in the Ovaries on Apr 29, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Keith just needs to flatten out the palm in that picture, and it would look like an Aryan Brotherhood rally.
by Jeremyjackson on Apr 29, 2009 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Stink: I have been in the suites a bunch of different times for Sixers and Flyers games, and those suites are awesome. THey are located at the top pf the 1st level, they dont have a glass in front of it, so its like you are out in the open above the action. I believe that watching the fights from the suites will be simply AMAZING!!!!! I wish it was in JUne insteda of August, put now I am just being picky. U should join us stink. Take a plane over to the east coast with Kev.
by john on Apr 29, 2009 3:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
IDK John, 2 ballers on one flight could be dangerous!!!
by kevin on Apr 29, 2009 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
T is gonna melt jardine’s chin. And don’t come at me with this -survived rampage “bombs.” He’s gonna try to dance his way to a UD but it won’t work.
by NameNotRequired on Apr 30, 2009 12:19 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jardine is one of my favorite fighters. I don’t really like the way he throws swatting punches and such, but I like his attitude and his consistency for facing the best of the UFC Light heavyweights. Obviously hes got the big kicks in his arsenal, but thats very well known, so he should watch out for counter hooks and whatnot from T.Silva.
T.Silva is a baaaad dude though. I think he strength is his GNP, and I know hes a jits black belt, but I think Keith will have enough defensive wrestling to keep from getting mounted. Jardine may even take Silva down (doubt it). /
I see Thiago winning the first round, then punching himself out and Jardine taking over in the 2nd and 3rd rounds. Jardine by decision, although I’d LOVE for him to get the finish.
by Synyster on Apr 29, 2009 10:31 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
2 great match ups stinky! My greedy ass would have LOVED to see Jar-FOCK vs. THiago added to the Philly card, but I cant complain.
I think Jardine vs. Silva is going to be a very hard fought fight. Jardine should be the favorite but I think Silva will give him hell. I am a big Silva fan, and beating Jardine should cement his spot as a rising young star. no shame in losing top Lyoto!
This is what I would like to see happen in the LHW division:
Jardine vs. Thiago
Forrest vs. Anderson
Hammil vs. Vera
Winner of Jardine/THiago fight the loser of the Forrest/anderson fight (Forrest duh!).
Winner of the Vera vs. Hammil fight vs. Shogun
Loser of Jardine/THiago fight vs. Rich Franklin
Loser of Vera/Hammil vs. Banha Cane
by john on Apr 29, 2009 10:48 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Some nice potentials there John. On those matches how do you think these would go:
Jardine/Forrest 2
Cane/Vera
Vera/Shogun
Jardine/Cane
Franklin/Jardine or Forrest or Vera
by Synyster on Apr 29, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Thiago Silva in the same condition as he was in for his fight against Houston wins this fight! no doubt about it!.. he looked horrible against Machida, it was an embarrassing performance and it had to do with him coming in out of shape for that fight…
by RoB on Apr 29, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sounds good to me john~
u r a regular joe silva.
by stinky~fingers on Apr 29, 2009 11:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i dont think banha will be facing anyone coming off a loss in his next fight
by ufcaddict on Apr 29, 2009 12:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
When you break it down like that you realise how stacked the L/HW division is. I mean i know it has been the marquee division for a while but there are endless quality matches there.
I have just got a feeling Vera is going to come out of the big shuffle up to be a big player soon.
by Nick J on Apr 29, 2009 12:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
love it all except i would like to see cane fight some top 10 guys. i say you throw him up there w. the big boys. id like to see a franklin vs can or a forrest vs cane
by Phil on Apr 29, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Synyster:
Very tough match ups to call man…you putting me on the hot seat. lol. If you put a gun to my head and made me choose I would say:
Jardine/Forrest 2: Jardine via TKO again. I honestly think Jardine is a bad match up for Forrest
Cane/Vera: Wow, tough one…flip a coin!
Vera/Shogun: Shogun, I rate him at the very top of the division,a nd he will cement his place up at the top in the next couple of fights
Jardine/Cane: Cane via decision. I think he matches up well with Jardine
Franklin/Jardine or Forrest or Vera:
I think Forrest would beat Rich
Fra
I DONT KNOW MAN!!! Im trying but these are so hard to predict. I say it all the time, the best match ups are the ones that you cant even predict! All great fights. If anyone feel certain that they know how any of these fights will play out…Do tell, cause Im STUMPED!!!
Only thing I am sure of is that Shogun would beat Vera!
by john on Apr 29, 2009 2:47 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
LOL john. I know right. I was sitting there trying to figure it out, and I got just as far as you. Very interesting fights.
by Synyster on Apr 29, 2009 5:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
speaking of andy, gods most legendary mma fighter has a big fight ahead of him. im so jacked to see andy wang back
aside from that keith jardine is a beast and hell destroy this piece of crap can like nothing. expect nothing from tthiago “the piece of sh*t” silva and expect a heavy ko from jardine
by Jared on Apr 29, 2009 5:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it never fails to see jardine follow a great performance with a brutal knockout loss, and this will be no different (except he lost his last good performance)
by randy murders on Apr 29, 2009 10:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After years here, it finally seems like Jardine has earned a little respect, that’s awesome. I pull for him every time out, and this actually seems to me his easiest fight in a long time, and this will be tough as hell. I’m loving these huge fight announcements, what could be next?
by theCloser on Apr 29, 2009 10:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We know who Jardine is. He’s an above average fighter in the division capable of hanging with most anyone on a given night. We still need to find out who T Silva is. Although it’s no disgrace really to get steamrolled by Machida, the reality is that T Silva’s notable wins in the octagon aren’t any more impressive than say….Eric Schafer….whom I consider a B level fighter. This is a good matchup, and should answer questions about where T Silva belongs on the pecking order.
by CL on Apr 29, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
agreed man, dont know why he gets so much hype. every fight ive seen he looked awful
by Jared on Apr 29, 2009 5:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m going to have to go with Thiago Silva by TKO for this one.
by GreenStar on Apr 29, 2009 9:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sum1 is gettin droped in this one forshure im guessing both and then keith doesnt get up
by JG on Apr 29, 2009 9:52 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Jardine wasn’t ko’d by Rampage or Chuck- I think he’ll r4ecover just fine from a Silva punch. Jardine by tko in the 2nd or 3rd.
by DSmith on Apr 29, 2009 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
it can go ether way i personally would rather see a silva ko then a jardnene ko just cuz i know its allways awesome when jardene gets knocked lol
by JG on Apr 29, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jardine can’t afford the loss Silva can, so I have have to root for the dean on this one.
by DSmith on Apr 29, 2009 10:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
~plus for the past 2+ years jardine hasnt won consecutive fights.
his last 6 fight go as follows~
Loss Quinton Jackson
Win Brandon Vera :)
Loss Wanderlei Silva
Win Chuck Liddell :)
Loss Houston Alexander
Win Forrest Griffin :)
`~ he is due for a win~ just as the pattern dictates..lol
by stinky~fingers on Apr 29, 2009 10:14 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s why I always root for him. He doesn’t suck but he just can’t string any together. Even if I think someone else is going to win and I always want Jardine to win.
by DSmith on Apr 29, 2009 10:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
good fight, jardine looked good against rampage, i think he will take this fight can’t wait to go
i just wonder if this will be the co main event of the night??
and if he is on the card hopefully nate marquadt will be as well
by bryant on Apr 29, 2009 9:55 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
jardine looked good against a burned out Rampage
by ruan-fiy on Apr 29, 2009 9:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
hell yeah bryant i dont wanna see a maia-silva matchup. we learned what happens when a top 10 (not #1 contender) faces silva, let maia and marquardt fight for the next shot after hendo, to make the 102 card even better
by Jared on Apr 29, 2009 5:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is a wild matchup for sure, I was wondering who Thiago would get after forrest boned out on him. This will be a great test for Thiago, we will see if he is over rated or not.
by JRE on Apr 29, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i can see this ending with silva pulling off an ankle lock
by ukmma on Apr 29, 2009 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good match-up, I’m glad Thiago is getting a legitimate opponent in Jardine after losing out on a big fight with Forrest. This fight should test whether Thiago is ready to make the leap in competiton or whether he is overrated. Jardine is a tough guy who has suprised a few top fighters but at the same time his suspect chin always makes him vulnerable to top strikers, so this is a great chance for Silva to make a name for himself after being smashed by Lyoto.
I think Jardine is going to pull this one out with his unorthodox striking, as his leg kicks have buckled tougher and better fighters than Thiago. If he sticks to the gameplan and takes this fight seriously, then he has a great chance at grounding out a decision or possibly getting a TKO. As for Thiago, if he lands a few good shots he has a great chance at beating Jardine. Against Rampage, Jardine’s inability to take a punch cost him the decision and we all know what happened against Wanderlei and Houston but I think Keith’s learned from these mistakes and if he can survive the inital onslaught he should be able to win this fight.
I’d like to see the winner go on to face Forrest or Shogun, whilst the loser can take on someone on the fringes of the top 10 like Cane, Vera or Hamill.
by David W-S on Apr 29, 2009 10:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I have to disagree with your statement on Jardine’s chin being suspect. I’ve had this arguement before, and Jardine’s chin is STRONG. Its just that when you get his on/behind the ear, how well your chin is doesn’t really matter. Houstan rocked him in the clinch with those 3 or 4 heavy punches behind his ear. Wanderlei clipped him behind his ear and had him wobbly. Once he was already rocked in those fights, he got finished. Happens all the time to guys.
However, when he gets hit on his chin, like vs Liddell, Forrest, Rampage, an Vera, he stays right where he’s at. Rampage caught him clean quite a few times and Jardine stayed on his feet for 14:50 of the fight, and NEVER got dropped by Chuck, which was quite a feat back then.
You got a good post, but I just get bugged when peeps say hes got a weak chin.
by Synyster on Apr 29, 2009 11:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good post mate, but I’m not convinced that Jardine can take a punch from a top striker. The times he has been dropped or KO’d has been against powerful punchers, like Wandi, Houston, Rampage and Vera and whilst he took Chuck’s best shots, Liddell was on the decline at that point, I don’t think the Iceman ever truly recovered from the 2nd Rampage defeat.
Whilst Jardine won’t be KO’d by relatively weak punchers like Forrest and Hamill, he’s always going to be in danger of being dropped or stopped by a guy with good hands like Thiago. Once you have been brutally KO’d like he was against Wandi and Houston, you are never able to take punches as well as before. Look at Wandi his chin used to be legendary but after that Cro Cop KO he’s never been the same fighter. That’s Jardine’s problem, he is now always going to have to be elusive in fights with good strikers as he can’t take their punches and he’ll always run the risk of being knocked down or KO’d, which will cost him the win. I don’t think Thiago is that great but his best chance has to be catching Jardine with a good punch, as Keith’s ground game should neutralise Silva’s jits.
by David W-S on Apr 29, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
answer your question he is overatted and he sucks chute box dick. he doesnt deserve any mention of being in the top 10
by Jared on Apr 29, 2009 5:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
the dean of mean takes this one with a tko in the 3rd
by child on Apr 29, 2009 10:10 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think Jardine will win this fight via TKO.
There’s a strong chance Thiago Silva is overrated. He may have a suspect chin. BUT IF Thiago rushes Jardine, then Jardine may have problems.
by Vee on Apr 29, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thiago by KO in the first. Yeah i said it. I guess this leaves Shogun with 2 other options, Luis Cane or Rich Franklin. Id personally like to See Shogun vs Rich Franklin as the Co Main Event to the Rampage vs Machida/Evans Winner. This would be around UFC 103 or 104
by Adam on Apr 29, 2009 11:08 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thiago KO a la Wandy style. Hopefully Jardine is the favorite because I’ll be laying some bread on Thiago.
by DF on Apr 29, 2009 11:22 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I hope Jardine loses. His awkward fighting style is painful to watch. Quite frankly, I don’t care to watch any fighter who just wants to hang out as a gate keeper in his division and not seriously contend for the title.
by KS on Apr 29, 2009 11:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
solid matchup. lets c if thiago is ready to swim with the big fish of 205.
by COR on Apr 29, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
he’s not, didn’t machida already knock him out?
Machida is a way bigger fish than Jardine!
by kevin on Apr 29, 2009 11:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perfect, I called it yesterday on the Forrest/ Anderson article! I’ve always wanted to see Thiago vs Rashad
by DirtbagHtr on Apr 29, 2009 12:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Thiago vs rashad would be a horrible matchup.
by belfort_fan on Apr 29, 2009 12:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I actually called for it last May for BJ vs Sherk fight card. Of course if Thiago beat Lyoto, he would be there next month. They both have that cockiness to bulldoze anyone
by DirtbagHtr on Apr 29, 2009 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WAR PENNNNN!!! Aloha Bitches! BJ BJ BJ!!!
by ( (Adam G) ) on Apr 29, 2009 12:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
where have you been ,I was commenting a week ago wondering where you had dissappeared to
by scott on Apr 29, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
After what Penn pulled on me in the last one i had to find myself a rather large rock to chill under while i awaited his return. Florian = Dead Man Walking. BJ BJ BJ!!!
by ( (Adam G) ) on Apr 29, 2009 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I had a feeling it had to do with Penn,you took your medicine the next day after the fight,there was no reason to hide after that.Don’t write off Florian like you did GSP ,although,I got Penn in that fight too,but I think it will be better than you think
by scott on Apr 29, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wanna see Pen on top of Kenny, or visa versa, i wanna see some Jiu Jitsu displays. Stand up id give to Penn unless kenny is working some magic with GSP. I think it should be good as well but as usuall regardless (you dont even have to tell me who he is fighting) i go with BJ. He should be wanting to bring the pain id think, and now to have Ando on the same card BJ should really wanna put on a show to show that he can still be as interesting as a fighter like Ando. But Ando/Griff is gonna be a tuff act to follow cause Ando WILL bring the pain after that last BS Leitis pulled to dull that fight. BJ BJ BJ!!!
by ( (Adam G) ) on Apr 29, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I really cannot see anywhere that Florian has the advantage ,but he improves so much everytime he steps into the octagon,so it would be crazy to write him off,plus I know you are going to hate on me for this ,but sometimes I feel his BJJ transitions to MMA better than BJ’s does,I know BJ’s is better ,but in the octagon,I just do not know.All we see BJ able to pull off is the rear naked choke ,you see him try to go for arm bars and triangle chokes ,but he is not able to get it,but in his defense he has always fought better competition than Florian
by scott on Apr 29, 2009 1:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I have to see someone beat BJ at 155 to believe it. Kenny will have a better chance then most against BJ, but its hard for me to see Kenny win this fight because I dont think that Kenny has the ability to finish BJ Penn. all that “I Finish Fights” crap means nothing against bJ. Not being able to finish BJ gives Penn 25 minutes to take him out, and at Lightweight, I dont really think anyone can survive 25 minutes against Penn
Cant wait to watch this fight from my Luxury box at the wachovia center.
Kev,. I really look forward to the weigh ins…Pictures with BJ,and Anderson….Only way I would take a picture with FOrrest is if he lets me take one of me slapping a rear naked choke on him, if not I dont want his goofy ass in my pictures! lol
I think the undercard match ups are going to be very entertaining. They should add DRago on the card since he is from new york…and he is just a Philadelphia type of fighter!
by john on Apr 29, 2009 3:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Adam G is alive!
I’m taking Kenny so we can argue for old times sake.
by Punch You in the Ovaries on Apr 29, 2009 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
This is a tougher fight now for Silva I feel. I think its too close to call. But I shall be rooting for Silva.
by UK_Chris on Apr 29, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good match up, but now who will Shogun fight? Everyone is booked, he’ll have to sit on the sidelines for a while unless he gets Cane, no?
by Mascarita on Apr 29, 2009 12:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think thiago wins this by brutal tko.
Id like to see jones vs shogun next
That is if jones wins
by phenomenal angel on Apr 29, 2009 1:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
UFC 102 is shaping up to be a sic card.
Jardine is one of those guys that are fearless. People never root for him because he fights nothing but top notch competition, BIG NAMES. Compared to Thiago I can’t say the same. TRUE he’s fought some tough guys but who isn’t tough in the UFC. Jardine oh the other hand has experience with top 5 LHW (Rampage, Wanderlei, Rashad, Liddell..etc..) He’s fought nothing but champions and he deserves to win this because I believe his road for the title has been the toughest compared to any other fighter.
Jardine by UD.
by skelow on Apr 29, 2009 1:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I really like Jardine in this fight. If Silva couldn’t stand with Irvin, he will be confused as hell against Jardine.
by Jon on Apr 29, 2009 2:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
So who does Shogun fight? the inly fighters on the UFC LHW roster that arent’t booked are:
Eric Schafer
Mark Munoz
Jon Jones
James Irvin
Tomas Drwal
Luis Cane
Steve Cantwell
Which one of these fighters should face Shogun?
by Danny_c on Apr 29, 2009 3:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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