Introduction
UFC 96: Jackson vs. Jardine. March 7, 2009. Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio. The third UFC event in Columbus. Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson defeated Keith Jardine by unanimous decision — 29-28, 30-27, 29-28 — over three rounds in the light heavyweight main event. Shane Carwin defeated Gabriel Gonzaga to continue his rapid rise in the heavyweight division.
After the main event, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans entered the cage and publicly challenged Jackson by name. The confrontation marked the beginning of one of 2009’s most prominent feuds, eventually resolved at UFC 114 in May 2010.
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Quick Stats
3. The Build-Up
4. Main Event
5. Co-Main Event
6. Full Results
7. Bonuses & Awards
8. Records & Milestones
9. Legacy & Impact
10. FAQ
11. References
Quick Stats
Date: March 7, 2009
Venue: Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio, USA (third UFC in Columbus)
Main Event: Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine — Light Heavyweight
Result: Quinton Jackson def. Keith Jardine — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 30-27, 29-28)
Post-Fight: Rashad Evans entered the cage and publicly challenged Jackson; feud begins
Notable: Shane Carwin def. Gonzaga; Hamill def. Munoz; Gray Maynard def. Jim Miller
The Build-Up
Jackson’s win over Wanderlei Silva at UFC 92 in December 2008 had restored his top LHW contender status. Jardine had beaten Liddell at UFC 76 and was known for his angles and unorthodox striking. The fight was positioned as a step toward Jackson reclaiming the LHW championship he had lost to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86.
The post-fight moment defined the card’s lasting significance: Rashad Evans entering the cage, microphone in hand, challenging Jackson directly. The exchange set up a feud that ran through TUF 10 and culminated in their fight at UFC 114.
Main Event
Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine — Light Heavyweight
Jackson used his power striking and control to outwork Jardine over three rounds. Jardine’s movement and angles were not enough to solve Jackson’s pressure. Two judges scored 29-28 and one 30-27 for Jackson.
Co-Main Event
Shane Carwin vs. Gabriel Gonzaga — Heavyweight
Shane Carwin defeated Gabriel Gonzaga by TKO with his ground-and-pound striking. Carwin, who had KO’d Christian Wellisch in 44 seconds at UFC 84, continued his rapid rise. The win over Gonzaga — a former title contender — was the most significant result of his career to that point.
Full Results
Preliminary Card
Shane Nelson def. Aaron Riley — TKO (Punch) — R1, 0:44 — LW
Brandon Vera def. Mike Patt — TKO (Leg Kicks) — R2, 1:27 — LHW
Jason Brilz def. Tim Boetsch — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — LHW
Kendall Grove def. Jason Day — TKO (Punches and Elbows) — R1, 1:32 — MW
Tamdan McCrory def. Ryan Madigan — TKO (Elbows) — R1, 3:35 — WW
Gray Maynard def. Jim Miller — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 — LW
Main Card
Matt Hamill def. Mark Muñoz — KO (Head Kick) — R1, 3:53 — LHW
Matt Brown def. Pete Sell — TKO (Punches) — R1, 1:32 — WW
Shane Carwin def. Gabriel Gonzaga — TKO — R1, 1:09 — HW; Co-Main
Main Event — Light Heavyweight
Quinton Jackson def. Keith Jardine — Decision (Unanimous) — R3, 5:00 (29-28, 30-27, 29-28); post-fight: Rashad Evans issues public challenge
Bonuses & Awards
Fight of the Night: Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine — $60,000 to each fighter. Knockout of the Night: Matt Hamill — KO (head kick) of Mark Munoz at 3:53 R1; $60,000. No Submission of the Night awarded.
Records & Milestones
Rashad Evans challenges Jackson publicly post-fight — the in-cage confrontation began the feud leading to UFC 114 in May 2010.
Shane Carwin def. Gabriel Gonzaga — Carwin’s biggest UFC win; positioned him for an eventual HW title shot.
Third UFC in Columbus — Nationwide Arena, Ohio’s capital was an established UFC venue by 2009.
Legacy & Impact
The most lasting element of UFC 96 was the post-fight moment. Rashad Evans’ cage entrance and public challenge built an organic feud rooted in mutual dislike. Both fighters were TUF alumni; the tension had been building for years. Their eventual meeting at UFC 114 in Las Vegas drew strong commercial interest.
Shane Carwin’s continued rise was the card’s in-fight narrative. He was 10-0 and had now defeated a legitimate former title contender. His path to a HW title shot — which came at UFC 116 against Brock Lesnar in July 2010 — ran directly through the momentum built at UFC 96.
FAQ
What happened after the UFC 96 main event?
After Quinton Jackson defeated Keith Jardine, UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans entered the cage and publicly challenged Jackson, starting their feud.
When did Rashad Evans and Quinton Jackson fight?
Their feud that started at UFC 96 in March 2009 was resolved at UFC 114 in Las Vegas on May 29, 2010, where Evans won by unanimous decision.
Why was Shane Carwin's UFC 96 win significant?
Carwin defeated Gabriel Gonzaga, a former UFC HW title contender, by TKO. It was his most significant UFC win and continued his unbeaten run toward an eventual HW title shot against Brock Lesnar at UFC 116.
Was UFC 96 the first UFC event in Columbus?
No. UFC 96 was the third UFC at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, after UFC 68 (March 2007) and UFC 82 (March 2008).
How did Quinton Jackson score the win at UFC 96?
Jackson defeated Jardine by unanimous decision with scores of 29-28, 30-27, and 29-28, winning all three rounds on at least two of the three judges' cards.