“We’ll see where this fight is going to go. I think Ryan Bader’s going to try to stand with me honestly,” added the 34-year-old. “He might force it to the ground, and if he’s really after those takedowns it’s going to end up on the ground eventually because he’s a two-time All-American. He’s a great wrestler. Maybe we’re going to see some of my grappling. It’s been a while since I’ve been underneath anybody for a good amount of time.”
“I’ve been watching his boxing a lot in a couple of fights. He doesn’t bring a lot to the table boxing. He’s not very fancy, but what he does, he does extremely well,” critiqued Jardine. “He has an extremely fast, hard overhand, harder than I think anybody in the UFC maybe. That’s pretty much his deal. If he touches you with that it’s going to hurt. That’s his deal, so I’ve been looking at that a little bit.
— Keith Jardine +130 talks Ryan Bader -160.
Keith Jardine: Loss Thiago Silva -TKO (Punches), Loss Quinton Jackson -Decision (Unanimous), Win Brandon Vera -Decision (Split)
Ryan Bader: Win Eric Schafer -Decision (Unanimous), Win Carmelo Marrero -Decision (Unanimous), Win Vinny Magalhaes -TKO (Punches)
“Ben Rothwell is a big guy, much bigger and taller than I am,” Cro Cop said. “He is very tough as well. But I am ready. He is very good with ground and pound, but I am not worried about this. I am ready if it goes to the ground. But I do not think it will go to the ground. I think this will be a stand-up battle, the Fight of the Night.”
“I am taking one fight at a time. But I don’t think anyone in the division should be underestimating me. I am not someone who should be underestimated. I have not had the results in my last fights, but I am still the man who won titles, won in PRIDE, and did what I did. It isn’t clever business to underestimate me.”
— Mirko Cro Cop -175 talks Ben Rothwell +125.
Mirko Cro Cop: Loss Junior dos Santos -Submission (Punch), Win Mostapha Al-Turk -TKO (Punches), Win Hong Man Choi -TKO (Low Kick)
Ben Rothwell: Loss Cain Velasquez -TKO (Punches), Win Chris Guillen -Submission (Elbows), Loss Andrei Arlovski -KO (Punches)