Keith Jardine

Keith Jardine (born October 31, 1975) is an American actor and retired mixed martial artist who most notably competed in the UFC and Strikeforce.

Jardine was born in Butte, Montana, moved to Oregon, and finally settled in Los Angeles, California, where he attended Canoga Park High School.

Jardine played football and competed in Greco-Roman wrestling in high school under Coach Rudy Lugo, and continued to compete at Los Angeles Pierce College, then for his final two years of college as a defensive lineman at New Mexico Highlands University, which has a Division II program.

He received a degree in Human Performance and Sport from New Mexico Highlands University.

Before focusing on a career in mixed martial arts, Jardine worked as a personal trainer, firefighter, football coach, miner, and bounty hunter.

He also played rugby and competed in high-level wrestling tournaments after college before traveling to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he began training for MMA with Greg Jackson.

Jardine made his professional mixed martial arts debut in 2001, defeating Amir Rahnavardi via armbar submission.

He would win five out of his next six bouts, suffering one knockout loss to Travis Wiuff six seconds into the fight, before debuting in the Japanese Pancrase organization in 2003.

Jardine's bout in Pancrase, with Keiichiro Yamamiya, ended in a draw.

Jardine defeated his next two opponents, including a submission win over Red Devil Sport Club fighter Arman Gambaryan, before appearing on The Ultimate Fighter 2.

In 2005, Jardine was cast on The Ultimate Fighter 2, a team-based reality television show created by the UFC, as a Heavyweight competitor.

He was the first Heavyweight to be chosen by team coach and then UFC Middleweight Champion Rich Franklin.

Although considered a favorite to proceed to the Heavyweight division's finals, Jardine was not selected to fight until the semi-finals, where he was defeated by eventual Heavyweight winner and his future sparring partner, Rashad Evans.

Jardine made his first appearance on an official UFC fight card at The Ultimate Fighter 2 Finale, defeating fellow TUF 2 Heavyweight Kerry Schall by TKO due to leg kicks.

Jardine was signed to the UFC and subsequently dropped down a weight class to the Light Heavyweight division.

His next appearance was at UFC 57 where he defeated Mike Whitehead, another The Ultimate Fighter 2 competitor, by unanimous decision.

In April 2006, Jardine fought The Ultimate Fighter 1 Light Heavyweight finalist Stephan Bonnar at Ultimate Fight Night 4.

Jardine lost the fight in part due to a very controversial unanimous decision, but gained a great deal of fan and media support after the bout.

After the fight Jardine stated, "Everyone knows that that Bonnar fight should have been my fight[...] I still get approached everyday about that. I am 3–1, but I don't necessarily look at it that way."

Jardine next faced American Top Team's Wilson Gouveia at The Ultimate Fighter 3 Finale.

Although color commentator Joe Rogan believed that he lost the first round, Jardine managed to bounce back and defeat Gouveia via unanimous decision after three rounds.

Jardine was then scheduled to fight Mike Nickels, a Light Heavyweight competitor from The Ultimate Fighter 3, but Nickels was forced to withdraw due to a back injury.

Instead, he next faced The Ultimate Fighter 1 Light Heavyweight winner Forrest Griffin at UFC 66.

Although considered an underdog in the bout, Jardine scored a TKO victory in the first round after he floored Forrest then took the full guard and brought many right hands over the top to cause the stoppage.

At UFC 71, Jardine was scheduled to fight UFC newcomer Houston Alexander.

During his pre-fight interview, Jardine complained about being matched against an unknown newcomer, believing that he deserved an opponent with a higher profile.

During the fight, Jardine quickly knocked Alexander down with a punch, but the newcomer promptly returned to his feet and knocked Jardine out just 48 seconds into the first round in a major upset.

Jardine was then matched up against former long-time UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Chuck Liddell at UFC 76.

The bout was Liddell's first fight since losing his belt to Quinton Jackson.

Jardine landed numerous unchecked leg kicks and several body kicks to Liddell's side throughout the fight, which was spent almost totally on the feet.

The bout was ruled a split decision in Jardine's favor, turning him into a top contender for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

First, however, Jardine faced former PRIDE Middleweight Champion Wanderlei Silva.

Silva swarmed Jardine with punches and knocked him out just 36 seconds into the first round.

Jardine had to be helped up after the fight and was sent to the local hospital for observation.

After this loss, Jardine faced Brandon Vera at UFC 89.

Although it appeared that Vera damaged Jardine's knee with a front kick in the second round, Jardine ultimately earned a split decision victory over Vera.

In a post-fight interview, Jardine stated that the injury was minor.

With the victory, Jardine earned a shot at Quinton Jackson at UFC 96.

Although the fight was considered an elimination bout for title contention, Jardine and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans are close friends and training partners and both have stated that they will not fight each other.

In a close fight, Jardine lost by unanimous decision.