Shark Fights 13: Jardine wants his stay in the minors to be quick

Keith Jardine was a gamer and a solid contributor to the UFC's rise over the last five years but when you've lost four straight and 5-of-6 you become a pretty tough sell. Jardine backed UFC into a corner and the promotion told the former cast member from Season 2 of "The Ultimate Fighter" that it was time to hit MMA's small circuit.  Jardine (15-8, 6-7 UFC) was flattered by all the offers from smaller promotions. He actually took one of the first fights that came his way. Shark Fights out of Texas offered up a fellow UFC veteran in Trevor Prangley. They meet this weekend in Amarillo, Tx. at Shark Fights 13. Jardine wasn't about to wait around for UFC to change its mind or take time off.  "First of all, all the offers that came in for fights were just incredible and made me feel pretty good. And I just wanted to get a fight as quick as possible, and then Shark Fights called right away - I mean, like, the next week - and I accepted the fight," Jardine told WJFK's Luke Thomas. "And so I've been in training mode ever since, so I think after this fight's over, I think I'm gonna take a couple weeks."Win or lose, Jardine is a free agent after the fight and he'll look for the best match possible. "The Dean of Mean" told WJFK that he believes the UFC would like him to win two fights before they call him back up. "My goal is always to get back in the UFC and get back in the title picture. And we made no bones about it," said Jardine. "We told 'em that that's what this fight is for me, a chance to get back in the ring and get out of the slump that I've been in, and get right back in the title picture in the UFC." Jardine, 34, is optimistic and he should be. He's well-regarded by UFC president Dana White and matchmaker Joe Silva. And frankly the last two years could've been much different with a break or two along the way. Jardine lost a tight decision to Quinton Jackson at UFC 96 and thinks his attack mode mentality down the stretch cost him the fight. He also got jobbed a bit in his last loss against Matt Hamill, when he lost a point on what was really an unintentional eye poke. Jardine revealed one surprising nugget that he never received offers or calls from two of the biggest promotions in the world, Strikeforce and DREAM.Prangley, who's truly a tweener between 185 and 205 pounds, won't be easy for Jardine. He's a very good wrestler and this will make the third straight takedown artist that Jardine has had to fend off. If he can keep it on the feet, Jardine should be able to get to Prangley (22-6, 2-2 UFC). The 38-year-old has slowed down defensively over the years. It'd be nice if Jardine could score a quick, emphatic finish as well. Bloodbaths are fine when you're in the UFC but probably not the best way get re-signed by the promotion.  Quotes via Bloody Elbow

Paul Williams Bernard Hopkins Shane Mosley Juan Manuel Marquez