i TV Pinoy

Source: ABS-CBN News

-- Keith “The Dean of Mean” Jardine and Joe “Daddy” Stevenson said they are up for the challenge on Sunday in Sydney, Australia when they take on their opponents in UFC 110: Nogueira vs Silva.

Jardine, 34, will face the undefeated 26-year-old Ryan “Darth” Bader of the United States while Stevenson, 27, will take on 32-year-old George Sotiropoulos of Australia.

Bader (11-0) said he will definitely step up in his clash against his fellow American.

“This is my first genuine challenge at the top level and I’m in against a top-tier guy. This is a welcome move for me and I feel I’m ready for this next step,” he told UFC.com.

“Jardine’s been in the Octagon with guys like ‘Rampage’ Jackson, Forrest Griffin and Wanderlei Silva. He’s a good guy to face. This will show me just where I’m at in my career.”

Jardine (14-7-1), meantime, thinks that his match-up against Bader is a “good fight” for him.

“Bader’s a great up-and-coming fighter with impressive wrestling and some very heavy punches. I think he’s going to make a fight of it and that can only mean excitement for the fans,” stated the mixed martial artist fighting out of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“The Dean of Mean” lost his 2 previous fights to Thiago Silva and Quinton Jackson. Silva knocked him out in Round 1 of their UFC 102: Couture vs Nogueira bout last August while Jackson won via unanimous decision in their UFC 96: Jackson vs Jardine clash last March.

His last victory was a split decision triumph over Filipino-American Brandon Vera in UFC 89: Bisping vs Leben in October 2008.

Bader, meanwhile, won over Eric Schafer in UFC 104: Machida vs Shogun by unanimous decision (UD) last October. He also scored a UD win over Carmelo Marrero in UFC Fight Night: Condit vs Kampmann last April.

Difficult match

Australian Sotiropoulos, meantime, will have the home court advantage as UFC 110 will take place at the Acer Arena in Sydney.

“He’s very difficult for me,” American Stevenson (36-10) said of his Australian foe.

“He’s very dangerous on the ground, so I’ve got to take him very serious, and he’s got the reach on the feet and has been focusing on his standup.”

Sotiropoulos (11-2) also pointed out the strengths of his UFC 110 opponent.

“Joe Stevenson is a well rounded and durable fighter, with strengths in wrestling and jiu-jitsu,” he noted. Both Sotiropoulos and Stevenson are coming off back-to-back wins in 2009.

The Australian won by submission (arm lock) over Jason Dent in UFC 106: Ortiz vs Griffin 2 last November and George Roop in UFC 101: Declaration in August.

Stevenson prevailed in his UFC 104: Machida vs Shogun bout against Spencer Fisher by submission (other) last October. He also clinched a UD victory over Nate Diaz in The Ultimate Fighter: Team US vs Team UK Finale last June.

The American, however, lost to Diego Sanchez by UD in UFC 95: Sanchez vs Stevenson.

UFC 110 is headlined by Cain Velasquez and Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira. Its co-feature pits British superstar Michael “The Count” Bisping against Wanderlei “the Axe Murderer” Silva.