UFC 89 Breakdown: The Main Card

Keith Jardine vs. Brandon Vera
Jardine Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 6’2/205 lbs.
Age: 32
Hometown: Butte, Mont.
Fighting out of: Albuquerque, N.M.
Record: 13-4-1

The stakes: Coming off a disastrous bout with Wanderlei Silva, no one is quite sure what to make of Jardine at this point in his career. Wins over Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell proved his worth, but a pair of blowout knockout losses to Silva and Houston Alexander has earned him the unwanted reputation of being inconsistent. Now matched against one of the UFC’s top young stars, Jardine needs to draw a line in the sand and remind the world what he can do.

The breakdown: With his unorthodox striking style and underrated grappling acumen, Jardine poses unique challenges for Vera. He is one of the few light heavyweights around who can match Vera’s propensity for leg kicks. More importantly, Jardine can back up his kicks with powerful punches that come from unusual angles. The key for Jardine will be to avoid the clinch while keeping a methodical pace on the feet and smothering Vera’s offense.

Vera Scouting Report
Height/Weight: 6’2/205 lbs.
Age: 31
Hometown: Norfolk, Va.
Fighting out of: San Diego, Calif.
Record: 9-2

The stakes: Originally slated to be the UFC’s next heavyweight superstar, Vera’s talent simply could not overcome the size advantage he gave up to opponents, which led to the first two losses of his career. After a dreadful light heavyweight debut, Vera needs to reestablish his blue-chip status or risk becoming another UFC washout.

The breakdown: A long and lean striker that exemplifies the muay Thai creed of leg kicks and clinch work, Vera must get back to the basics if he is to rediscover the form that made him a main card attraction in the first place. That means working behind a steady jab and using his leg kicks to take away Jardine’s base. From there, Vera has to be willing to let go and unload with the brain-scrambling strikes that made him into a human highlight reel.


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The bottom line: Two fighters in desperate need of a win often means two fighters who will be willing to go all out in search of that win. That, or a conservative approach will reign supreme. Either way, favor Vera’s superior grappling and lengthy reach keeping Jardine at bay and notching a comfortable decision win.