Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago (23-8) has been released by World Victory Road promotion according to MMAFighting.com and is now free to pursue a contract with other companies.
It’s likely that Santiago will look to sign with Strikeforce for his next fight. In a recent comment on Twitter (@SantiagoMMA), a fan said that he wanted to see Santiago face middleweights “Jacare” Sousa, “Mayhem” Miller and Robbie Lawler.
Santiago replied “I hope that happen too bro…. Let’s see it.” He also posted this message “… on my way to New Jersey with my big boy “Big foot Silva” for Strike Force..” in reference to Strikeforce’s media event for their World Grand Prix heavyweight tournament in New York this week. His appearance could certainly be part of a strategy to get signed by Strikeforce.
Santiago has already fought for Strikeforce participating in their one night Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives event back in November of 2007. He would win both fights to win the one night tournament and then head off to Japan.
While in Japan he fought eight times under the Sengoku banner going 7-1 earning the Sengoku middleweight title after winning the Sengoku Middleweight Grandprix in 2008. He’d defend his title twice, with his only loss coming to Mamed Khalidov in a non-title fight. Santiago would face Khalidov immediately afterwords for the title and would earn a unanimous decision win. He’s 11-1 in his last twelve fights.