This weekend the UFC returns to Columbus, OH with UFC 96 at the Nationwide Arena. In the main event PRIDE star and former UFC light heavyweight champion takes on The Ultimate Fighter 2 veteran “The Dean of Mean” Keith Jardine. Also on the card is a heavyweight clash between contender Gabriel Gonzaga and rising prospect Shane Carwin. The card also features The Ultimate Fighter 3 winner Kendall Grove, The Ultimate Fighter 3 stand-out Matt Hamill, Tamdan McCrory, and Brandon Vera.
**PDG UFC 96 Preview**
**UFC 96 LIVE Weigh-In Results**
**LIVE Results & Play-by-Play**
Main Card:
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Keith Jardine via Decision - Unanimous (29-28,29-28,30-27)
Round 1:
They clinch at the start and exchange knees against the cage, the ref breaks them up, Jardine throws a combo followed by low leg kick. Jackson lands a right jab, they clinch again after a brief exchange, dirty boxing by both fighters, they break. Low kick again by Jardine, left-right combo by Jackson, Jackson catches Jardine with a uppercut and a leg kick. Both fighters throwing strikes, front kick by Jardine, another combo by Jackson and the round ends.
Round 2:
Jardine with a low leg kick and Jackson lands a body kick, Jardine lands a few kicks and Jackson responds with some right hooks. Jardine throwing kick-punch combos, Jackson lands a couple of combos and a left hook, Jardine is down but he fends off Jackson and gets back to his feet. More leg kicks by Jardine but Jackson shoots and gets the takedown, Jardine escapes and they are back standing. Jardine lands a dick kick........fight resumes...Jardine lands an uppercut and and a big combo with another uppercut and a leg kick. Jackson comes back with a left hook and they exchange combos as the bell rings.
Round 3:
Body kick by Jardine, Jackson looking to connect with punches, body kick by Jardine. Jackson with a body kick and Jardine lands a straight right. Jackson gets the takedown and is in Jardines half guard, Jardine stands and they clinch against the cage. They break and its Jardine more leg kicks, straight right by Jardine and Jackson misses his left hook. More leg kicks by Jardine and a right-left combo, Jackson lands a left hook, they clinch against the cage again. the ref breaks them up, right-left by Jackson and they are both landing punches with Jackson landing better punches. Jardine throwing kicks and Jackson lands a straight right and left hook that puts down Jardine down as the fight ends.
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shane Carwin via TKO-Strikes RD. 1 (1:09)
Round 1:
Carwin moves in and they exchange strikes, Gonzaga lands a big right and gets the takedown. GNP from Gonzaga in Carwin's guard. Carwin gets to his feet and lands a devastating straight right and Gonzaga is out cold.
Matt Brown vs. Pete Sell via TKO-Strikes RD. 1 (1:32)
Round 1:
Brown with a LHK and a superman punch, the ref almost stops the fight, Brown rushes in and lands several knees and a few punches and Sell is down again. Brown landing GNP, they stand up and Brown knocks Sell's mouthpiece out with and elbow and lands several more punches before the ref finally stops the fight.
Matt Hamill vs. Mark Munoz via TKO - Head Kick RD. 1 (3:53)
Round 1:
Munoz shoots but Hamill defends the attempt, Hamill lands a couple of right-left combos and Munoz shoots again, Hamill defends and they are back standing. Munoz lands a few overhand rights and Hamill responds with another combo, and more from Hamill. Hamill continues to be the aggressor, they exchange right hooks and they briefly clinch. RHK by Hamill and Munoz is out cold.
Gray Maynard vs. Jim Miller via Decision - Unanimous (30-27 all cards)
Round 1:
Both fighters start off looking to land strikes, Miller clinches Maynard against the cage, they exchange knees and break. Maynard lands a left-right combo and a straight right to the body, Miller responds with a body kick and he attempts a single leg. Maynard lands several strikes as he defends the takedown. Miller bleeding and attempts another a takedown, Maynard defends again and they break. Miller lands a few kicks and Maynard responds with punch combos as the round ends.
Round 2:
Maynard comes out throwing again and lands a combo, low leg kick by Miller and Maynard lands a couple straight rights. Low kick by Miller almost catches Maynard in the crotch. Maynard lands three body punches, another low kick by Miller and he gets a warning from the ref. Maynard lands a body-head combo, Miller shoots again for a single leg and pulls guard but Maynard escapes and they are back standing. Miller bleeding very bad, they exchange right hooks, low leg kicks by Miller and Maynard stalks him and lands more strikes. Both fighters throwing again as the round ends.
Round 3:
Both fighters come out swinging and again it is Maynard getting the upper-hand, straight right lands Maynard and Miller with the body kick. Miller tries the clinch again and Maynard gets the takedown but has to escape a kneebar and they are back up. Miller shoots again, Maynard defends again and ends up on top of Miller where he lands GNP. Miller taking several strikes from Maynard before they stand back up. Another straight right by Maynard as the fight ends.
Preliminary Card:
Tamdan McCrory vs. Ryan Madigan via TKO-Strikes RD. 1 (3:35)
Kendall Grove vs. Jason Day via TKO-Strikes RD. 1 (1:32)
Tim Boetsch vs. Jason Brilz via Decision - Unanimous (29-28 all cards)
Brandon Vera vs. Mike Patt via TKO-Strikes RD. 2 (1:27)
Aaron Riley vs. Shane Nelson via TKO-Strikes RD. 1 (1:44)
