UFC 96: Jackson vs. Jardine was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). It was held in Columbus, Ohio on March 7, 2009 at Nationwide Arena.

Fighters were awarded $60,000 bonuses.

Keith Hector Jardine (born October 31, 1975) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the Middleweight division and is best known for his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, where he fought in the Light Heavyweight division. During his time in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, he held notable wins over Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell, and Brandon Vera. In 2011, Jardine signed a multi-fight deal with Strikeforce.

Jardine made his professional Mixed Martial Arts debut in 2001, defeating Amir Rahnavardi by armbar submission. He would win five out of his next six bouts, suffering one knockout loss to Travis Wiuff six second 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 second season of The Ultimate Fighter, 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.

Rashad Anton Evans (born September 25, 1979) is an American mixed martial artist from Niagara Falls, New York, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship. Evans won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans lost the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship to then undefeated Lyoto Machida at UFC 98. As of November 2011, Evans is currently ranked as the #3 Light Heavyweight fighter in the world by Sherdog and Yahoo! Sports.

Wrestling out of Niagra Wheatfield High School, Evans twice made it to the state finals tournament of New York by winning his weight class for his county, in which he received All-State honors both times. In 1997 he placed 4th in the state at 145 pounds. In 1998 he placed 4th in the state at 171 pounds. In 1999 he entered the National Junior College Athletic Association National Championships for the 165 pound weight class in which he finished in 4th place. Competing once again at this tournament in 2000, he was the champion of the 165 pound weight class.

Dana White (born July 28, 1969) is the current President of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), a mixed martial arts organization based in the United States.

Born in Manchester, Connecticut on July 28, 1969, White grew up in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ware, Massachusetts and Levant, Maine. White is a passionate Boston Red Sox fan. During his youth, he bounced back and forth between Boston and Maine. He attended the University of Massachusetts Boston but did not finish; however, while there he did launch a boxing program for inner-city youth.

White has a background as an aerobics instructor. In 1992, White established Dana White Enterprises in Las Vegas. He conducted aerobics classes at three gyms in the Las Vegas area and began managing MMA fighters Tito Ortiz and Chuck Liddell.

While working as a manager, White learned that Semaphore Entertainment Group, the parent company of the UFC, was looking for a buyer for the UFC. White contacted childhood friend Lorenzo Fertitta, an executive at Station Casinos, and a former commissioner of the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Within a month, Lorenzo and his older brother Frank bought the UFC, with White installed as its president. White currently owns about 9% of Zuffa, LLC, the entity the Fertitta brothers created to own and manage the UFC.

Shane Bannister Carwin (born January 4, 1975) is an American mixed martial artist who competes in the heavyweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he was previously the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion. He won his first 12 MMA fights in the first round which led to his Heavyweight Championship shot at UFC 116 against then-champion Brock Lesnar, which became his first career loss. As of March 21, 2011, he was ranked as the #5 heavyweight fighter in the world by Sherdog and was ranked as the #8 heavyweight fighter in the world by MMAWeekly as of August 2011.

Carwin and his two brothers were raised by his mother, who had the goal of getting all her sons college educations. He received a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines as well as a bachelor's degree in Environmental Technology from Western State College.

Carwin wrestled in college, becoming a two-time NCAA Division II Wrestling National Runner-Up Heavyweight in 1996–97 and the NCAA II Wrestling Heavyweight National Champion in 1999. He was also a two-time All-American in football for Western State and was chosen to participate in the Senior Bowl.