Keith Jardine is ready to bounce back against Hamill; Court McGee wants to stay focused on McCray
Posted on June 16, 2010, 04:19 PM by Daniel CassidySpeaking at the TUF 11 Finale Media call, Keith Jardine and Matt Hamill discussed their upcoming bout and what it means to each of them. Jardine, coming off the back of three losses to top 10 LHW's, spoke about how in this upcoming fight he feels this is a hugely important fight, saying:
“The main thing with this fight is, I don’t care who they set me up against, I feel like I’m lucky to be on the main card, let alone the co-main event. They could have put anybody out there. I never say no. I’m real excited to fight another wrestler, Matt Hamill. I don’t want to get too philosophical, but I went through a phase of really trying to polish up my boxing -- keep my hands up all the time. Just being a real polished boxer, that’s not me,” he said. “But it’s good, I learned a lot of stuff. Now it’s about trying to bring that together with my own style… and just have fun and loosen up and relax a little bit.
I’ve been definitely fighting too tight. Now I’m just relaxed and ready to try to take this thing to the next level. I’m not even fighting him, I’m fighting myself. I don’t think I’ve ever got up to 80 percent of my potential in the ring yet. That’s all I’m concentrated on right now.”
Answering LowKick.com's question, Jardine said he is hugely confident in his ground game and is looking forward to Hamill taking the fight to the ground. He also revealed he was the one who invited team mate Rashad Evans to Greg Jackson's camp.
Hamil too knows just how important this fight is for him as well. While a loss on Saturday night could be the end of Jardine's UFC career, a win for "The Hammer" could see him move into facing top contenders. Hamill was happy to report his recent shoulder problems were now behind him, and he is 100 percent healthy.
As for TUF 11 finalists Court McGee and Kris McKray both spoke about their excitement at making it to the final. Answering Speaking about whether or not he feels his coach Chuck Liddell's loss to Rich Frankiln provided any extra motivation, McGee stated that straight away it sparked something inside him and wants to avenge his mentor's loss, but he knows he must stay fully focused ahead of the fight:
"Immediately after watching the fight, I was really emotional. The first thing that came to my mind is that I have to avenge this loss. But I can't think about it this way," said McGee. "It's like fighting angry and nothing I do angry comes out good. I am not fighting to avenge Chuck's loss, I'm not fighting to overcome drugs, I'm not fighting for the fame or the fortune.
I'm fighting because I enjoy fighting, I enjoy the competition and the payout so I can take care of my family. I have a work to do. It is what it is, it's a bummer that Chuck lost. I wanted him to win more than anything, but he got caught and when the top athletes meet it happens.."
The TUF 11 Finale takes place this Saturday, at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
Comments
I think the only way Jardine has a chance is if he leg kicks Matt til he injures him. Hamill should be able to beat him almost everywhere in the cage.
If Jardine had a better chin, he would be top 10 for sure.
i believed chuck when he said he was gonna KO Rich...i will not be making the same mistake with Jardine. Once your chin is gone its gone sorry Keith.
True, people have been on Chuck for the past 2 years and Jardine has been knocked out by half of the 205 division but he was KO'd in only his 3rd fight by Wuiff in 6 seconds when he was all roided out
it's do or die for jardine.
I surprised Kieth is still with the UFC. Dropping three in a row is usually a one way ticket to cuts-ville if you were never a title holder. I like Jardine but I'm gonna have to go with Hamill.
I can't believe that Keith Jardine is still in the UFC either when so many fighters have been getting cut left and right for losing .
He is one of the TUF originals and Dana is a real softie when it comes to them, and he is also an exciting unorthodox fighter with a lot of fans. If he reals in viewers fans and money he is worth keeping around, even if he has 3 straight
Plus if they do ditch where will he go... Strikeforce.
The last thing that the UFC wants is him in Strikeforce. It is starting to fgrow out to the public
There's no chin behind Court's beard--just another fist.
Jardine is an enigma... He really had something going with that weird drunken monkey stance... Hopefully he can pull it together and come out with the win... Although, the whole comeback thing has not been going well for anyone lately....
Jardine's a enigma..lol. That's the first time i've heard that. LMAO
"Keith Jardine's head is ready to bounce on the canvas against Hamill."
There's a reserved spot just for Keith Jardine on the StrikeForce roster. Don't let us down Keith on Sat.
Scott Coker
can't wait to see Hamill lay out Jardine
Hammil is good but he has never really fought the weird type of fighting tactics that Jardine has. He won't know how to prepare for him. Jardine will fight smart and keep his chin down and his head up. I give this to Jardine
I think Hammil is too caught up with himself. After the Jon Jones fight where he got his butt handed to him in the Joe Rogan Postfight interview he talked like he had made a fool of JONES. He'll get ahead o himself and Jardine will get back in the winning circle.
McGee is a stud. He was my day 1 pick to win the show so I can't say he will lose. McCray's biggest weakness is his cardio. He gasses in almost the first minute of the fight. McGee's cardio is his best weapon. I think that Court is a more well rounded fighter than Kris so I give this one to Court.
Leben is nothing but talk and loopers for punches. We saw in the Lawlor fight that Arron's chin could be a victim to those bombs that Leben throws. Leben also has one of the absolute worst ground games in the UFC so if the stud wrestler decided to make Bomb-boy fight ground Arron should walk away with an easy win. If he stands he'll wake up in 1960
I also picked Chuck to beat Rich by KO/TKO, i like both guys equally but i really wanted to see Chuck make a comeback but it just wasn't to be. He did look quite good, if a little tired, in that fight though imo up untill he got sloppy, over commited, and got caught. I like Hamill in this match up, Jardine is just too inconsistent and doesn't normally fare well against top level guys, i think Matt will repeatedly take him down and GnP his way to the 'W', Jardine is still dangerous though and could pull this out but i doubt it, we'll see. In the TUF final i like McGee, they're both grinders man but i think if the fight goes into the later rounds Court has the edge in the cardio dept, early rounds it's anybodys man, should be a great fight though regardless because they seem quite evenly matched. Some good match ups on this card so it should be a good night of fights.............