UFC fans voted via-text message for who they thought would win UFC 96's main event tonight. The results? 67% Rampage, 33% Jardine.
Rampage gave them what they wanted.
The win was essential for Rampage to fight in the Light Heavyweight Championship bout against Rashad Evans, the defending champion.
It was a sweet victory for Jackson, who is the former Light-Heavy champion.
In a 29-28, 29-28, 30-27 three round decision, Rampage proved to be a dynamic fighter. Though his highlighted weakness were leg kicks, you wouldn't have known it watching Rampage fight tonight. Still, his clinch punching and no-mercy style won it for him.
The two fighters tied up early in a fairly even first round fight.
In the aggressive second round, Rampage landed a heavy blow to Jardine, almost knocking him out. But the 'Dean of Mean' wasn't ready to let up.
Jardine took control at some points, but his unorthodox style didn't work for him.
The decisive move came in the third round, when Rampage threw a tight left-hook to Jardine in the last seconds, solidifying his win.
But the main event doesn't speak for the whole night.
Out of seven events, five ended in first round knockouts.
My favorite was the insane kick that Ohio native Matt Hamill (sooo hot!) landed to Mark Munoz's dome in the first Light Heavyweight bout. What a great way to show his hometown crowd what he's all about! And for Munoz, not so much fun in his UFC debut.
Other results for the night:
Lightweight
Gray Maynard (7-0 pre-fight), a former NCAA All-American wrestler, ended Cole Miller's 8 win streak in a three-round unanimous decision. Miller was 13-1 pre-fight.
Middleweight
Kendall Grove knocks out Jason Day with a swift left-right jab to the face 1:32 into the first round.
Welterweight
Matt Brown (11-7) knocks out Pete Sell (8-5) 1:32 into the first round.
Welterweight
Tamdan McCrory knocked Ryan Madigan to the ground, and took him out with his elbows 3:35 into the first round.
Heavyweight
Shane Carwin uses his four inch reach advantage to take out Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Champion Gabriel Gonzaga (10-4) 1:09 into the first round, giving him an 11-0 MMA record.
Matt Hamill... smokin'.
photos: Top: mmabuzz.com
Bottom: fight24.pl
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