Jorge Santiago

Jorge Santiago
Born October 9, 1980
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Other names The Sandman
Nationality Brazilian
Height 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight 170 lb (77 kg; 12 st 2 lb)
Division Welterweight (2002-2005, 2013-present)
Middleweight(2005-2013)
Reach 74 in (190 cm)
Fighting out of Boca Raton, Florida
Team Jaco Hybrid Training Center (Blackzilians)
Rank black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu
Years active 2002 – 2013
Mixed martial arts record
Total 37
Wins 25
By knockout 10
By submission 13
By decision 2
Losses 12
By knockout 6
By decision 6
Mixed martial arts record from Sherdog

Jorge Santiago Rodrigues (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈʒɔʁʒi sɐ̃tʃiˈaɡu]; born October 9, 1980) is a Brazilian mixed martial artist currently competing in the Welterweight division for the World Series of Fighting. He was the first Sengoku Middleweight Champion and is the former Strikeforce Middleweight Grand Prix Champion. He has also competed for the UFC, King of the Cage, Titan FC, It's Showtime, and BodogFIGHT.

Mixed martial arts career

Early career

Santiago started his mixed martial arts career at Reality Fighting 2 in 2002 with a win over Jose Rodriguez. In the following years Santago fought for Absolute Fighting Championships, King of the Cage, and a few other small organizations earning an 11–5 record.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

In 2006 he signed with Ultimate Fighting Championships, where he competed three times. He won his UFC debut at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 5 against Justin Levens by first round KO. He returned at UFC Fight Night 6 and UFC Fight Night 7, losing by KO to former WEC Middleweight Champion, Chris Leben in the second round and to Alan Belcher by KO in the third round. He then left the UFC.

Strikeforce

In his first fight after leaving the UFC, Santiago was victorious against Andrei Semenov at the Bodog Fight: Clash of the Nations show in Russia. In his next fight he had to deal with longtime veteran Jeremy Horn and submitted Horn in the first round.

The next challenge for Santiago was the Strikeforce Middleweight tournament on November 16, 2007. Competing in the tournament as the underdog, Santiago won the Grand Prix by defeating Sean Salmon and Trevor Prangley on the same night.

Sengoku

Continuing on his path of success, Santiago became Middleweight Champion, by defeating Yuki Sasaki, Logan Clark, Siyar Bahadurzada, and Kazuhiro Nakamura. The last two fights were on the same night.

Santiago was then crowned World Victory Road's first Middleweight Champion by defeating the acclaimed Kazuo Misaki at Sengoku no Ran 2009.

He was set to face former UFC 12 Heavyweight Tournament Champion and former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, Vitor Belfort at Affliction: Trilogy, but the match was scrapped after the cancellation of the event.

Santiago then fought at World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 11 against current KSW Middleweight Champion, Mamed Khalidov in a non-title bout. Khalidov won by first round knockout; Santiago's first loss since 2006.[1] He avenged this loss in March 2010 with a split decision victory over Khalidov at Sengoku 12.

Santiago defended his title for a second time when he defeated Kazuo Misaki via TKO at Sengoku 14 in August 2010.

Return to UFC

On February 8, 2011, Santiago requested and was granted his release from World Victory Road. On February 16, he signed a multi-fight contract to return to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.[2]

Santiago lost in his UFC return to former WEC Light Heavyweight Champion Brian Stann at UFC 130 via TKO in the second round.

Santiago then lost by unanimous decision to Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Demian Maia at UFC 136.[3]

Following the loss to Maia, Santiago was released from the promotion.[4]

Post-UFC

On March 2, 2012, Santiago won his return fight, knocking out Leonardo Pecanha with a straight right at 1:48 in the first round at Titan Fighting Championships 21 [5] On June 15, 2012 Santiago fought Justin Guthrie at Titan Fighting Championship 23 winning the fight via submission in the first round.

Strikeforce

Santiago was re-signed by Strikeforce (now owned by the UFC's parent company Zuffa, LLC) in August 2012, where he was expected to drop to Welterweight for a bout with former King of the Cage Welterweight Champion Quinn Mulhern at Strikeforce: Melendez vs. Healy on September 29th, 2012.[6] However, the event was cancelled the following month due to an injury to headliner Gilbert Melendez, and the Santiago/Mulhern bout was not rescheduled before Strikeforce's closure and absorption into the UFC in January 2013.

Third UFC Stint

Already signed with Strikeforce, and following his own back-to-back wins outside the organization, Santiago was called back to the UFC to take on Gunnar Nelson in a welterweight bout on February 16, 2013 at UFC on Fuel TV: Barao vs. McDonald, replacing an injured Justin Edwards.[7] Santiago lost the fight via unanimous decision and was subsequently released from the promotion for the third time.[8]

World Series of Fighting

Santiago signed with World Series of Fighting in 2013 and made his promotional debut on August 10, 2013 against Gerald Harris at WSOF 4. The bout had a confusing first round where Harris slammed Santiago and Harris believed he had tapped. However, the referee was stopping the action to deduct a point from Santiago for blatantly grabbing the cage during Harris' slam. Following the confusion, the fight continued and Santiago would go on to lose the fight via unanimous decision.

Personal life

Santiago is married. He has a daughter from a previous relationship.[9]

Championships and achievements

Mixed martial arts record

Res. Record Opponent Method Event Date Round Time Location Notes
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 25–12 Gerald Harris Decision (unanimous) WSOF 4 August 10, 2013 3 5:00 Ontario, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 25–11 Gunnar Nelson Decision (unanimous) UFC on Fuel TV: Barao vs. McDonald February 16, 2013 3 5:00 London, England, United Kingdom
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 25–10 Justin Guthrie Submission (inverted heel hook) TFC 23 June 15, 2012 1 1:34 Fort Riley, Kansas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 24–10 Leonardo Pecanha KO (punches) TFC 21 March 2, 2012 1 1:48 Kansas City, Kansas, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 23–10 Demian Maia Decision (unanimous) UFC 136 October 8, 2011 3 5:00 Houston, Texas, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 23–9 Brian Stann KO (punches) UFC 130 May 28, 2011 2 4:29 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States Fight of the Night
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 23–8 Kazuo Misaki TKO (corner stoppage) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 14 August 22, 2010 5 4:31 Tokyo, Japan Defended Sengoku Middleweight Championship; Fight of the Year
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 22–8 Mamed Khalidov Decision (split) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 12 March 7, 2010 5 5:00 Tokyo, Japan Defended Sengoku Middleweight Championship
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 21–8 Mamed Khalidov KO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 11 November 7, 2009 1 2:45 Tokyo, Japan Non title fight
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 21–7 Kazuo Misaki Technical Submission (rear-naked choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku no Ran 2009 January 4, 2009 5 3:26 Saitama, Japan Won Sengoku Middleweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 20–7 Kazuhiro Nakamura KO (punches) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 6 November 1, 2008 3 0:49 Saitama, Japan Sengoku Middleweight Grandprix 2008 Final Round
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 19–7 Siyar Bahadurzada Submission (heel hook) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 6 November 1, 2008 1 1:10 Saitama, Japan Sengoku Middleweight Grandprix 2008 Semifinal Round
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 18–7 Logan Clark Submission (arm-triangle choke) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 5 September 28, 2008 2 3:55 Tokyo, Japan Sengoku Middleweight Grandprix 2008 Opening Round
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 17–7 Yuki Sasaki Submission (armbar) World Victory Road Presents: Sengoku 2 May 18, 2008 3 2:10 Tokyo, Japan
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 16–7 Trevor Prangley TKO (knee to the body) Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives November 16, 2007 1 2:31 San Jose, California, United States Won Strikeforce Middleweight Grand Prix Final
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 15–7 Sean Salmon KO (flying knee) Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Survives November 16, 2007 1 0:24 San Jose, California, United States Strikeforce Middleweight Grand Prix Semifinal
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 14–7 Jeremy Horn Submission (triangle choke) Art of War 3: Monson vs. Rizzo September 1, 2007 1 3:02 Dallas, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 13–7 Andrei Semenov TKO (punches) Bodog Fight: Clash of the Nations April 14, 2007 2 4:48 St. Petersburg, Russia
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12–7 Alan Belcher KO (head kick) UFC Fight Night: Sanchez vs. Riggs December 13, 2006 3 2:45 San Diego, California, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 12–6 Chris Leben KO (punch) UFC Fight Night 6 August 17, 2006 2 0:35 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 12–5 Justin Levens KO (knee and punches) UFC Fight Night 5 June 28, 2006 1 2:13 Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 11–5 Thomas Russell Submission (armbar) Fightfest 3 May 6, 2006 1 1:59 Youngstown, Ohio, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 10–5 Sydney Machado TKO (punches) Costa Rica: Fights 3 December 2, 2005 2 0:49 Costa Rica
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 9–5 Leopoldo Serao TKO (punches) Full Throttle 5 November 4, 2005 1 0:43 Georgia, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 8–5 Joey Villaseñor Decision (unanimous) KOTC 58: Prime Time August 5, 2005 3 5:00 San Jacinto, California, United States For King of the Cage Middleweight Championship
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 8–4 Jordan Radev Decision (unanimous) It's Showtime: Amsterdam Arena June 12, 2005 2 5:00 Amsterdam, Holland Debut at Middleweight
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 8–3 Chris Liguori Submission (rear-naked choke) Euphoria: USA vs World February 26, 2005 1 3:27 Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 7–3 Diego Sanchez Decision (unanimous) KOTC 37: Unfinished Business June 12, 2004 3 5:00 San Jacinto, California, United States For King of the Cage Welterweight Championship
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 7–2 Takuya Wada Submission (armbar) Absolute Fighting Championships 7 February 27, 2004 1 1:52 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 6–2 John Cronk Submission (armbar) KOTC 32: Bringing Heat January 24, 2004 2 0:54 Miami, Florida, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 5–2 Keith Wisniewski KO (punches) Absolute Fighting Championships 6 December 6, 2003 3 2:14 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 5–1 LaVerne Clark Submission (triangle choke) Hardcore Fighting Championships 2 October 18, 2003 1 2:17 Revere, Massachusetts, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 4–1 Derrick Noble Decision (unanimous) Absolute Fighting Championships 5 September 5, 2003 2 5:00 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
style="background: #ffdddd; color: black; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-no2" |Loss 3–1 Manny Gamburyan KO (punch) KOTC 27: Aftermath August 10, 2003 1 0:21 San Jacinto, California, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 3–0 Justin Wieman Submission (triangle choke) Absolute Fighting Championships 4 July 19, 2003 1 4:11 Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 2–0 Jay Martin KO (punches) HOOKnSHOOT: Boot Camp 1.1 March 8, 2003 1 0:14 Evansville, Indiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win 1–0 Jose Rodriguez Submission (knees) Reality Fighting 2 November 2, 2002 1 1:16 Wildwood, New Jersey, United States

References

  1. ↑ "Jorge Santiago to face Mamed Khalidov in "Sengoku 11th Battle" non-title affair". MMAjunkie.
  2. ↑ http://mmaweekly.com/jorge-santiago-signs-multi-fight-contract-for-ufc-return
  3. ↑ "Demian Maia meets Jorge Santiago at UFC 136". mmajunkie.com. July 15, 2011.
  4. ↑ http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/10/18/2497639/ufc-mma-news-jorge-santiago-released
  5. ↑ http://www.mmamatrix.net/index.php/mma-news/1198-jorge-santiago-vs-leonardo-pecanha-set-to-headline-tfc-21
  6. ↑ Mike Whitman (August 23, 2012). "Thomson-Fodor, Santiago-Mulhern, Two Other Bouts Added to Strikeforce 'Melendez vs. Healy'". sherdog.com.
  7. ↑ Staff (January 23, 2013). "Justin Edwards out, Jorge Santiago in against Gunnar Nelson at UFC on FUEL TV 7". mmajunkie.com.
  8. ↑ MMAjunkie.com Staff (February 20, 2013). "UFC releases Jon Fitch, Vladimir Matyushenko, 14 others". mmajunkie.com.
  9. ↑ "Jorge Santiago on life in the USA and getting back to the UFC". Fightersonlymagazine.com. August 9, 2010. Retrieved March 27, 2011.

External links

New championship 1st Sengoku Middleweight Champion
January 4, 2009 – February 8, 2011 		Vacant