MMA Coverage

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The unpredictable nature of mixed martial arts produced another stunning outcome Saturday when heavy underdog Keith Jardine produced a split-decision victory over the recently deposed Ultimate Fighting Championship light-heavyweight king Chuck Liddell.

Jardine knocked Liddell down in the second round, and repeatedly landed scoring punches through the third round in a bout fought throughout in a stand-up striking position at Anaheim’s Honda Center.

“It feels like I won the belt,” said Jardine, a near 4-1 underdog.

Less than four months after losing his title in a first-round knockout loss to Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Liddell, 37, dismissed pre-fight questions that age was getting the better of him.

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BJ Penn’s camp has confirmed that Penn will be fighting at UFC 79 on December 29th. His opponent however has yet to be named. UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk’s appeal to the California State Athletic Commission is set for October 31. If his suspension is overturned it’s likely he will be Penn’s opponent.However, if his suspension is not overturned and he is stripped of the title it is very likely Joe Stevenson could step in and face Penn for the title. Here is an excerpt of an interview that Stevenson recently had with TheFightNetwork.com:

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Jon Fitch doesn’t fight with the same electricity as fellow welterweight Georges St. Pierre. He doesn’t have champion Matt Serra’s charisma. Nor does he have Karo Parisyan’s flashy moves.But unlike the rest of the 170-lb. division, he’s on a winning streak that puts the rest to shame.

“The UFC has the deepest 170-lb. division in the world,” said Fitch (15-2, 1 no-contest). If you’re in the UFC and you think you’re at the top of the heap I want to fight you.”

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The “Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine held session Saturday night at the Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif., with a shocking upset of former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell.

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Former Pride fighter Mauricio “Shogun” Rua lost the first fight of his Ultimate Fighting Championship career Saturday night, submitting to Forrest Griffin in a stunning upset at UFC 76.

Rua, whom many MMA fans considered the best light heavyweight in the world, entered the Octagon first, which is usually the role of the underdog. But having Griffin enter the Octagon second was a nod to his popularity as the first Ultimate Fighter winner. Just about everyone expected Rua to win, and most people expected Rua to win easily.

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“If (UFC matchmaker) Joe Silva calls up with a fight for you, you better pray it’s not (me).”

If you guessed Rampage or Tito Ortiz, nobody would blame you. But the real owner of that quote is Dover’s Kenny Florian. After submitting Din Thomas with a rear choke hold in the first round of their nationally televised match Wednesday night, Florian pronounced those words for all to hear. So what gives? Was it his alter ego, Evil Kenny, doing the talking?

“People keep saying I’m the guy that doesn’t look like a fighter. I’m the accountant-fighter,” Florian said with a laugh. “But in many ways, it’s how I feel really.

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