This Saturday hold more at stake to Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, and Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga then just a win. The outcome of both their fights hold s the opportunity to get them back on the road to championship gold.
Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine
Since losing his Light Heavyweight belt to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86, Jackson was on a brief leave from the octagon until he made his comeback at UFC 96, where he got revenge on his long-time arch nemesis, Wanderlei Silva via knock out in the first round.
It was 2003, Pride Fighting Championship Final Conflict, Jackson and Silva first faced off in the ring. Wanderlei took Quinton out using vicious knees. After a lot of bad blood and a shoving match in the PrideFC rings, the two meet again at PrideFC 28 High Octagon, where Quinton succumbed to the same fate.
Quinton Jackson now has the opportunity hold the Light Heavyweight belt again should he be victorious over Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine.
Keith was last seen in the octagon at UFC 89, where he was awarded a victory via split decision over “The Truth” Brandon Vera.
Since joining the UFC after his elimination from the Ultimate Fighter 2, Jardine has been able to hold a 6-3 record with his only losses to Stephan Bonner, Houston Alexander and Wanderlei Silva. At UFC 96, Keith Jardine will have the opportunity to stop the man that threatens the championship run of his teammate and good friend, the reigning Light Heavyweight champion “Suga” Rashad Evans
The Main Card UFC 96
In another main card bout, Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga takes on Shane Carwin, for the opportunity to be submitted in the running for the number one contendership for the Heavyweight title. Gonzaga’s biggest win was over Croatian born Mirko “Crocop” Filipovic at UFC 70, where he took out Cropcop with one of his own signature, a straight high-kick to the head.
Last performing at UFC 91, where he was victorious over Josh Hendricks via knockout, Gonzaga steps back into the octagon to take on an unbeaten Shane Carwin, last seen at UFC 89 where he was awarded a TKO victory over Neil Wain.
Matt Hamill first graced the octagon in the Ultimate Fight 3 Finales, where he defeated Jesse Forbes by TKO. The deaf fighter last won a bout at UFC 92 after defeating Reese Andy. Making his UFC debut Mark Munoz is stepping into the octagon to take on Hamill, coming in on a two fight winning streak from World Extreme Cage Fighting.
In a Welterweight bout Pete Sell faces off against “The Immortal” Matt Brown, coming in after a submission victory over Ryan Thomas at UFC 91. Brown looks to continue his winning streak when he meets Pete Sell in the middle of the octagon. Ending a three fight losing streak, Sell was back in the octagon at UFC 90 where he defeated Josh Burkman. The last main card battle features Gray Maynard vs. Jim Millner.
Preliminary Bouts for UFC 96
Brandon “The Truth” Vera vs. Mike Patt
Kendall Grove vs. Jason Day
Tim Boetsch vs. Jason Brilz
Tamdan McCrory vs. Ryan Madigan
Aaron Riley vs. Shane Nelson
