Keith Jardine cut by the UFC; Akiyama finally agrees to fight Leben
Posted on June 25, 2010, 10:20 AM by Anton GurevichMixed Martial Art veteran and one of the UFC's fan-favorite fighters, Keith Jardine, was cut by the promotion after going on a negative 0-4. Jardine lost to Matt Hamill at the Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale, picking a prestigious Fight of the Night award for his efforts. Thirty-four year old Jardine may be on his way to Strikeforce, who will be happy to strengthen their Light Heavyweight ranks.
Jardine is holding a 6-7 record in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, and 15-8-1 in Mixed Martial Arts. The Dean of Mean holds a notable victories over Chuck Liddell, Forrest Griffin and Brandon "The Truth" Vera.
Elsewhere, Yoshihiro Akiyama expressed his disappointment with Wanderlei Silva's withdrawal from UFC 116, in an interview to the Korean Daum.net. Akiyama stated that he is not ruling out the possibility of not fighting at UFC 116, after the promotion decided to call up an "unpopular" Chris Leben as a replacement:
"I am not pleased with the change. There are just ten days left until the contest for me to determine [Leben’s] threats and the time is insufficient to establish a tailored gameplan. Leben is also not as high-profile as [Wanderlei] Silva and that does not help me.
If there is to be a replacement I was hoping for a big name. I spent one year preparing hard for this fight and this news has come as a big disappointment, my motivation has waned. I do not know yet what will happen ... In the worst case, I will not take part in the [UFC 116] event. We are working hard to resolve this issue."
But only a few hours after Akiyama's comments surfaced up, mmajunkie.com reports that Sexyama agreed to fight Leben in the co-main event of UFC 116. Looks like Dana added some digits to Akiyama’s fighting purse? Possibly. But one thing is for sure: we will see a very entertaining fight on July 3rd.
Comments
He is afraid to fight Leben! He just doesn't want to get knocked out!! Leben's name is just as big as Akiyama's if not bigger. Akiyama has never been a main event in the UFC before. Even if Leben couldn't win the stand up he would take him down and ground and pound him!! I wanna see this fight! Please don't bitch out Akiyama!!
i agree, but he does make sense, he has more to lose than to gain, and if he does lose than he'll probably never get the chance to fight wandy, which is his dream.
akiyama is a superstar in japan u muppet, and is a top level fighter who has fought in a main event UFC 100 remember!!! bitch out hahahahah he will kill leben
Well this damn sure ain't Japan! And no he didn't fight as the main event at UFC 100 Lesner and Mir did remember!! He barley even made the main card!! Leben will win!!
That pussy is scared of leben!!! If you've been training for Wand for a year, Then you should be more than ready to take on someone like Leben. Not knockin' Chris, Cause I love'em, but he just ain't the same caliber as Wand. And also, when u work for the UFC, u fight who they tell you to fight-None of this "oh, my motivation has waned.....". This ain't Tokyo barbara, buck up and fight. And don't worry Sexyama, If u win, There will be a year supply of "Tan in a Can" in ur hotel room on me..........Keep Bronzin' BE-Y-OTCH.
I think Leben would beat Wanderlei. Hes definitely got him beat in the chin department!! I don't think any one who stands in front of Leben like Wanderlei would has a chance. he the better wrestler too.
Yes he is tougher in my opinion for Akiyama but Anderson made easy work out of Lebens chin remember. Lebens chin might as well be a glass one in that fight, complete domination in the stand and bang dept.
Well that's Anderson Silva. But every one knows Leben has one of the best chins in mma!
He doesn't have the power to knock out a Chris Leben , lets face it ..Wanderlei Silva comes straight in swingin , alot easier to knock out then He used to be and he has gottin weak in his old age. Now , A Chris Leben who is young , fairly fast , has a monster punch , a stone Jaw and is seriously Disturbed is alot harder to fight. I can understand Yoshi' QQ's
YEAA BOY!!
I don't know if you saw Wandy's last fight against Bisbing but it appears that Wandy has given up on the brawling style in favor of a more technical mix of aggression and counter attack.
YEAA NUGGGA!!
nope wand and the ufc let him down, he has evry right to be unhappy. you dont like him because lebens balls are in your mouth
Your a Fag pdogg!! lucky i don't knock ur teethe in then stick my balls in ur mouth!! Then ur moms.
hes a fighter get in there and fight
are all you guys stupid, wand and akiyama will both kill leben!!!!
What up with all the homosexual comment?
The Dean of Lame should have been cut after his 3rd loss...no more holding tits before the fight for him....He won against good contenders in the LHW division but lost to lower competition...