Roger Gracie vs. Keith Jardine preview
‘Strikeforce: Rockhold vs. Kennedy’ is scheduled for this Saturday, July 14th as the San Jose-based promotion brings two interesting title fights and more to the Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. MMABay continues our breakdown of the main card action by looking at the middleweight debut of BJJ world-beater, Roger Gracie, as he faces fellow former light-heavyweight and UFC veteran, Keith Jardine. Will the ground wizard get back to winning ways or will ‘The Dean of Mean’ play the role of spoiler? Find out after the jump…
Roger Gracie (4-1)
Nobody can accuse second-degree BJJ black-belt, Roger Gracie, of doing things the easy way. The lanky submission specialist entered Strikeforce with a meagre 2-0 record but in that time had beaten respected journeymen, Ron Waterman and Yuki Kondo, as a stringy and inexperienced heavyweight.
Gracie wasted no time in touching up his resume, submitting both former UFC champion Kevin Randleman and seasoned veteran Trevor Prangley, both by rear-naked choke, to suggest he was a true threat in the light-heavyweight division.
But in September, the 6ft 4in grappler met his match in Muhammed ‘King Mo’ Lawal who exposed his lack of striking, dropping and finishing Gracie with punches late in the very first round.
Keith Jardine (17-10-2)
Jackson’s MMA veteran, Keith Jardine, has had more downs than ups in recent years and the 36-year old’s lengthy career seems to be winding down after countless wars spanning several promotions. Renowned for his fearless attitude as he faced a murderer’s row of light-heavyweight killers in the UFC, ‘The Dean of Mean’s post-UFC career has been little to shout about.
A couple of wins over little-league competition lifted the spirits but Jardine was fortunate last April to draw with top Strikeforce light-heavyweight, Gegard Mousasi, after taking a hefty beating for much of the fight.
In January, with options few and far between, Strikeforce middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold, was served ‘The Dean of Mean’ to act as his first title defence. Looking gaunt, Jardine offered little resistance to the champion and was finished with punches in the first round.
The Verdict: This is a match-up clearly intended to add a recognised name to Gracie’s record but Jardine has been in this situation time and again, and on occasion, he’s spoiled the coming-out party. The veteran will negate a lot of Gracie’s reach advantage and has decent enough takedown defence to force the Brazilian to fight out of his comfort zone. But Gracie’s made a living out of putting fighters on their back and Jardine’s submission defence will definitely be put to the test at some point. While ‘The Dean of Mean’ is no amateur, he’ll be controlled like a white-belt for long spells as Gracie takes a nip-tuck decision to kick off his middleweight career. Gracie, decision.
By Steve Davies.
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Photo by Esther Lin – STRIKEFORCE
