Keith Jardine Gets Strikeforce Title Shot. Wait. What?!

by Chad Raynard on Dec 2, 2011 11:50 AM EST in MMA

Strikeforce has a long history of making very questionable matchups, especially pertaining to their titles, but they've really out done themselves this time. It appears their new middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold, will not be fighting Tim Kennedy after all. Instead he'll meet Keith Jardine of all people.

I really don't understand what they are thinking anymore. I assumed now that they were under the Zuffa umbrella, these ridiculous matchups would stop; I was wrong. Keith Jardine in no way deserves to be fighting for a title, in any organization. Besides never having fought at 185, he's coming off a draw (realistically it was a loss, Mousasi was robbed), and two wins against nobodies. Before that, he dropped five fights in a row.

I understand they are working with a limited roster, but if they want to make one sided matchups like this they should drop the belts completely. This is not a relevant fight, this is a UFC washout being fed to a rising prospect. How do you make the argument that Jardine is a champion caliber fighter with his current record?

And what if by some miracle, Jardine actually wins? What would that say about the titles and other Strikeforce champions? It would absolutely ruin any semblance of importance that the belts hold, and tarnish the promotions reputation as a whole. This is a big mistake.

If they need to keep Rockhold busy, why not bring over a mid-tier middleweight from the UFC? They've had no problem moving most of Strikeforce's talent to the big leagues, and so the opposite shouldn't be an issue. It's not like the UFC can't spare the likes of Alan Belcher, Tim Boetsch, or Nick Catone. Any of these guys would be a tough challenge for the middleweight champion.

It seems Strikeforce is simply buying time until the promotion folds in 2012. Most of their top talent has already been moved over to the UFC, and matchups like this don't exactly renew any interest in their champions. It's just a shame they aren't going out with some more memorable fights.

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yep

reeeeeeeeeeeeediculous

The artful muppet formerly known as KrmtDfrog.
Please read my sardonic wit and over-blown sense of self over at headkicklegend.com

by Cory Braiterman on Dec 2, 2011 12:43 PM EST reply actions

It’s the old Pride way of keeping the champ active

by ElvisIceman on Dec 2, 2011 12:52 PM EST via mobile reply actions

the dean of mean is going to get KO'd in this fight...

by lordrelay on Dec 2, 2011 4:39 PM EST reply actions

It seems Strikeforce is simply buying time until the promotion folds in 2012

as Snowden once said, Strikeforce is dying and no one gives a shit.

by vivero on Dec 3, 2011 12:37 AM EST reply actions

I don't mind the fight as it is. Making it for a title is unjustifiable.

Jardine is an unspectacular veteran. Rockhold’s been in 1 fight in almost 2 years. I’m ok with that. This title business needs to be made extinct in a hurry though. For all the effort Zuffa’s put into framing MMA as a high-level, respectable sport, their management of Strikeforce has been all amateur. They’re confident, and apparent correct, that no one will associate Strikeforce with the UFC and potentially dilute their pereceived reputation. It’s still completely possible to not destroy Strikeforce quite so gleefully.

This is Shark Fights match-making. Come on, Zuffa. Be better than Shark Fights. That’s all I ask.

"The President has been kidnapped by ninjas. Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the President?" -Anonymous

by Forbidden Psychological Technology on Dec 5, 2011 2:40 PM EST reply actions