Jardine Versus Rockhold Planned For Strikeforce Event

By Raphael Garcia

So what your record is 2-5-1 over your last eight fights doesn’t mean that you can’t receive a title shot, at least if you are a part of the Strikeforce organization. Early rumors from multiple sources indicate that Strikeforce middleweight champion Luke Rockhold may be facing off against UFC veteran Keith Jardine early next year. This is an interesting choice for a number of reasons.

First, you have to ask how Jardine is considered a viable contender at middleweight. He was last seen in April when he fought to a draw against former light heavyweight champion Gegard Mousasi. However, that draw was more due to Mousasi’s mistakes rather than Jardine’s fighting acumen, as Gegard was docked a point for fouls during the contest. That was enough to swing the scorecards away from a victory for Mousasi, and to a draw across the judges’ scorecards.

Before that, Jardine was on a five-fight losing streak, during which he was defeated by contenders and journeymen alike. Between 2009 and 2010, Jardine was defeated by Quinton Jackson, Thiago Silva, Ryan Bader, and Matt Hamill, which caused him to be cut from the UFC. The “bad luck” continued, as he was defeated by Trevor Prangley at Shark Fights 13. It wouldn’t be until December of 2010 that Jardine would taste victory once again. And none of those victories were at middleweight.

Secondly, this makes me wonder what Strikeforce is planning to do with Tim Kennedy. Kennedy has been a tough customer in all of his Strikeforce bouts, amassing a 5-1 record since debuting in the organization back in 2009. His lone defeat was to Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza for the vacant middleweight title last year. With such a resume in the hands of Kennedy, and with Jardine instead chosen to face Rockhold, it seems obvious that Kennedy is bound to step up to the UFC, where they are in need of potential contenders not named Chael Sonnen to face off against Anderson Silva.

You would be hard pressed to find someone who would argue that Jardine is a top contender for any title, let alone the middleweight title. If this bout is actually made, it will not only cheapen the Strikeforce middleweight belt, but the organization as a whole. We understand that the company is slowly being stripped of its top fighters, as they are being placed among the ranks of the UFC’s elite, but fight fans should not be expected to accept Jardine as the top contender in their 185-pound weight class.