"Rampage" vs Jardine Set To Headline UFC 96

Many people (including myself) were wondering just what the UFC was planning on doing with their UFC 96 event.

Before this weekend, the main event of the card was looking to be Shane Carwin vs Gabriel Gonzaga. Sure the UFC had time to add in a "money" main event, but they were running out of big names to fill the slots. Forrest Griffin is out. Randy Couture is out. Lesnar and Mir won't fight until later in the spring. Anderson Silva, Chuck Liddell, Georges St. Pierre and BJ Penn are all fighting in upcoming events. Who would the UFC slot in to fight in the main event of UFC 96? Surely they wouldn't choose to run with Carwin vs Gonzaga.

The UFC ended the speculation this weekend when they announced that Quinton Jackson would be taking on Keith Jardine in the main event of UFC 96.

Is it just me, or was anyone else surprised by this?

I was certain that the UFC was going to have Jackson vs Evans for the light heavyweight title next. Dana White revealed in multiple interviews that this fight was going to likely happen next.

Jackson was reportedly offered the Jardine fight last week and accepted. To me, this seems like a high-risk situation for Jackson. He will undoubtedly be the favorite against Jardine, but what if he loses? His title shot is out the window. Jardine has pulled off some upsets before - this wouldn't be the first time.

A "Rampage" / Evans match will be a huge money-maker for the UFC. Not only that, but it will be the first time in the history of the UFC that two African-American fighters have squared off for a title. The risk is there not only for "Rampage", but also for the UFC.

I'm not sure why "Rampage" accepted this fight, and I'm not sure why the UFC proposed it. If they were desperate for a main event fight, then they should have put Liddell on this card.

To me, this main event fight is a head-scratcher for multiple reasons. But who am I to question the infinite wisdom of Dana White and the UFC?