UFC 71 Results – Keith Jardine vs. Houston Alexander

Posted on May 26th, 2007

Keith Jardine

After some initial taunting and a jarring hook that put Houston Alexander on the mat Keith Jardine was humiliated by Houston Alexander’s relentless punches and knees to Jardine’s face. Keith Jardine came into this fight hot off of a win against Forrest Griffin and brimming with confidence. He was so confident that he made mocking gestures at the UFC newcomer, Houston Alexander, during the beginning of the fight. In retrospect I think Jardine is kicking himself for those actions and his poor mentality during this fight.

In the prefight interviews Jardine was upset that he was having to fight a previously unknown fighter like Alexander, he felt that he should be fighting a real contender. Contender or not as a fighter it is your job to win, and if you want to fight for the title then beat the fighter that stands in front of you. Despite rumors of the UFC having a hard time finding a fighter for Jardine, this fight was a test to see if Jardine was going to live up to his performance against Griffin and emerge as a real contender. Real champions don’t complain about who they compete against; they take the challenge before them and prove themselves, but Jardine let his ego take hold of him and he was literally crumbled at the hands of Houston Alexander, and showed that Jardine isn’t worthy yet of a title shot.

Houston’s dismantling of Jardine has validated him as a fighter and made him an instant mini-UFC star. His next fight will really define him. Alexander will have to step up big time and have another impressive showing and not let himself get intoxicated on confidence like Jardine did. I know that I now look forward to Houston Alexander’s next fight and have lost respect for Jardine and will be indifferent to his fights until he can prove himself to have a better attitude.