205 lbs.: Keith Jardine vs. Ryan Bader
Odds: (+130 Jardine / -160 Bader) at Sportsbook.com
The second bout of the evening features two Ultimate Fighter alumni, as season two contestant “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine will square off with season eight winner Ryan “Darth” Bader. Jardine has proven to be a tough competitor, but Bader is an athletic wrecking machine, so this should be an exciting fight.
Keith Jardine, who distinguished himself on The Ultimate Fighter, has become a mainstay in the UFC’s Light Heavyweight division despite his decidedly mixed results. A tough boxer with solid wrestling, Jardine has wins over former champions Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell, but seems unable to string together consistently good performances. Part of that is that he has faced a very high level of competition, but it is undeniable that Jardine sometimes comes out looking lost and turns in regrettable performances. Still, he has heavy hands and a good skill set, so he is not the kind of guy anyone can afford to take lightly.
Bader, who used his dominant wrestling to capture the Ultimate Fighter Season Eight title, is a powerful physical specimen with great takedowns, top control, and the ability to dole out significant punishment from top position. He also comes from a great camp, with top fighters like Cain Velasquez and CB Dolloway, so you know his wrestling continues to improve. All that said, there is no way to deny that Jardine is a big step up in competition for the undefeated Bader, whose fights have all come against younger, less experienced fighters, so this is going to be a tough win for him if he wants to keep that record intact.
Ultimately, I think Bader is just too strong and athletic for Jardine to handle. Jardine has the edge in the standup, and his wrestling is solid, but Bader’s wrestling is excellent and he is just too strong and too skilled for Jardine to stop the takedowns. I don’t see Bader being able to finish Jardine, but he should be able to score with takedowns and batter Jardine from inside his guard and side control to earn an easy decision.
Prediction: Ryan “Darth” Bader via unanimous decision.
If you want to add a little excitement to your fight night, you can bet on this fight at Sportsbook.com Odds. They allow you to start with as little as $20, and you can bet on all of the fights for the night. Check out my review of Sportsbook here…