Former Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago (23-8) announced to the world Tuesday night that he had officially signed with the Ultimate Fighting Championship on MMAWeekly Radio. The fighter also confirmed that he would be facing Brian Stann at the upcoming UFC 130 event on May 28 in Las Vegas.
“I came here with my manager to tell you guys firsthand on MMAWeekly, I finally signed today. It’s official, I’m a UFC fighter and I’ll be fighting May 28 against Brian Stann. That’s what’s up. After two years of fighting in Japan, there’s nobody else to fight. This stage in my life I was thinking about having more challenges for myself. I’m in the Top 10, been ranked for two years already. This was big stuff, giving my belt away, and ask for my release to come back to the United States and do it one more time in the UFC.”
His management company, Authentic Sports Management, put out this press release today.
Press Release – (22 February 2011): Sengoku Middleweight Champion Jorge Santiago (23-8, 9 KO/TKO’s, 12 submissions) has recently been signed to a multi-fight contract with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), with specific details of his first fight to be announced shortly.
Santiago previously competed in the UFC in 2006. Since leaving from the promotion, the American Top Team member has remade himself and matured as a fighter, building an 11-1 record over the last four years. A strong finisher, he has knocked out or submitted twenty-one of his twenty-three opponents. As a result, the Brazilian stalwart has carved out a reputation as one of the most electrifying fighters in the world. Now, Santiago, who is ranked in the top ten in his weight class by Sherdog.com, MMAWeekly.com, and USA Today/SB Nation, is ready to face new challenges and bring his brand of excitement back to the U.S. fans. He plans to show the fight world that he belongs in the biggest mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion in the world, and amongst the elite of the 185-pound division.
“I had a great experience in Japan, but I am now really excited to fight again in the UFC and conquer more fighters in the U.S.,” Santiago said.
A member of the Authentic Sports Management team that also includes “Suga” Rashad Evans, Jon “Bones” Jones, Kenny Florian, Ben Henderson, Carlos Condit, Matthew Riddle, and Alan Belcher, among others, Santiago built a reputation as one of the hottest Brazilian fighting stars in Japan. During his time with Sengoku, he cultivated an excellent 7-1 record and conquered fighters such as Yuki Sasaki, Siyar Bahadurzada, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Kazuo Misaki (twice), and Mamed Khalidov, the only fighter to beat Santiago during his time in Japan.
A native of Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, the 30 year-old Santiago began his professional career in 2002. While running his record to 11-5, he faced UFC/WEC/Strikeforce veterans such as Manny Gamburyan, Derrick Noble, Keith Wisniewski, Diego Sanchez, Chris Liguori, Jordan Radev, and Joey Villasenor. This success earned Santiago a trip to the UFC, where he went 1-2 in battles with Justin Levens, Chris Leben, and current ASM fighter Alan Belcher. After a couple fights outside the organization, Santiago entered the one-night Strikeforce middleweight tournament, besting Sean Salmon and Trevor Prangley en route to winning the entire tournament. From there, he went overseas and entered Sengoku, where he became a fan favorite star, while also becoming Sengoku’s first Middleweight Grand Prix Champion and 183-pound champion.
“Jorge Santiago is exciting to watch, and a real fan favorite wherever he has performed,” commented Authentic Sports Management Partner, Glenn Robinson. “He was missed by the UFC fans here in the U.S, and everyone is energized to see Jorge back and winning again in America.”
About Authentic Sports Management
Founded in late 2010, and based in Deerfield Beach, Florida, Authentic Sports Management (ASM) is a premier sports management and marketing company with a mandate to help clients grow and succeed as athletes, while developing foundations, creating positive legacies and building a personal brand that will carry them far beyond their chosen sport. ASM, with General Counsel Neal Tabachnick, and senior partners Glenn Robinson, Malki Kawa and Jon Rubinstein, primarily represent and support top mixed martial arts fighters.