Talkin’ MMA with Keith Jardine
Published by Scoop Malinowski on November 19th, 2008 in Interviews

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World class light heavyweight gladiator Keith Jardine, fresh and re-charged from a two week vacation down in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, takes time out to talk about his latest victory over Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera, how he felt about competing in London, Rashad Evans’ KO of The Ice Man and impressions on Brock Lesnar’s conquest of Randy Couture.

Also, Keith Jardine has introduced some stylish new gear and you can check it out at his web site www.meanstyle.com.

MMAMemories.com: Since the last time we spoke over a year ago, just wondering if your greatest career moment has changed. What is your greatest moment as an athlete?

Keith Jardine: You know, you’re only as good as your last fight and your last moment. So I would say winning my last fight (vs. Vera) is.

MMAMemories.com: Most painful moment?

Keith Jardine: When I fought…painful moment…probably when I fought Wilson Gouveia, fought that fight injured and it was a pretty painful fight.

MMAMemories.com: Your defeat of Brandon Vera, what was the key to your winning that match?

Keith Jardine: You know, I felt it was just, I kept the pressure on and I felt that the pressure wore on him eventually. I think he’s one of the best kick boxers in the sport, better than Forrest, better than Chuck and all that. So he was very hard to get to know and figure out his timing and all that. I think I won that fight mostly on toughness.

MMAMemories.com: Of all your fights, which one or two did you feel at your very best? Your finest performance, so to say.

Keith Jardine: My finest performance hasn’t even been close to being seen yet. I still haven’t shown really what I’m capable of. I can’t even tell you that. I’m not particularly proud of any of my fights.

MMAMemories.com: How about the experience of competing in London, England, in what ways does that differ from an event in the U.S.?

Keith Jardine: England is great. There’s just something about fighting overseas. It kind of mentally prepares you more for a fight, I don’t know why. It’s my third time and I fought in Japan before, I fought in Russia before. And it’s something about the different people, the different culture, the different experience. Just helps you build up to the fight and it helps you perform better.

MMAMemories.com: Were you surprised about Rashad Evans defeating Chuck Liddell – in the manner he did?

Keith Jardine: No, not…maybe in the explosive manner that he did. But no, I wasn’t surprised at all. Especially when the fight started, the game-plan was going just the way that we hoped. I knew that eventually Rashad would get the timing down and make something happen.

MMAMemories.com: You’re obviously a top gun at light heavyweight right in the mix, who would you like to fight most of all for your next match, if you could pick?

Keith Jardine: You know, I can’t pick, unfortunately, so I’m not really worried about it. As long as I fight one of the top 10. It doesn’t matter if it’s for the title or not. Honestly, I don’t think we know who the true best guy is in the division is. It could be Forrest but there’s a lot of guys undefeated, there’s a lot of guys that have to fight still. So I just want anybody in the top 10 now and I’ll be happy with that.

MMAMemories.com: The big match Couture vs. Lesnar – what were your impressions of that battle?

Keith Jardine: I thought that Couture looked a little rusty, his feet weren’t moving like he did when he fought Tim Sylvia. And he said he wasn’t (rusty) but his feet weren’t moving and it was hard to watch him standing in front of Brock and it was obvious that whatever Brock touches you with will hurt you. So I felt really bad for Randy. And even though he said it wasn’t rust I’m pretty sure he was pretty rusty in that. But Brock – I always say he’s improving at such a fast rate. And he’s clearly a hard worker. And he’s already a world class wrestler. So I don’t think it’s gonna take him long at all to be one of the best fighters in the game.

MMAMemories.com: Maybe even beat Nogueira next. Do you think Brock could pull that off?

Keith Jardine: Oh yeah, absolutely. I don’t know who I would pick in that fight. He’s obviously – he doesn’t have the tools yet, he sure might acquire them by the time that fight comes along. But I’m not sure how Frank Mir would be about a rematch either [smiles].

For much more about Keith Jardine, his career, vacation photos, clothing line, upcoming film roles, please go to www.meanstyle.com.