UFC NEWS: Jorge Santiago confirms UFC 130 fight with Brian Stann

By: Jamie Penick, MMATorch Editor-in-Chief

Jorge Santiago is officially back with the UFC, as his management team at Authentic Sports Management announced his signing with the organization late Tuesday.

After spending the past few years in Japan, Santiago is ready to get back to action in the UFC for the first time since 2006.

"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.

In addition to the official announcement from his management, Santiago confirmed in an interview with MMAWeekly.com that he has signed a bout agreement to meet Brian Stann at UFC 130 in May.

"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," Santiago revealed.

"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."

UFC 130 takes place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, headlined by the Lightweight Championship bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard.

Link to MMAWeekly.com Interview

Penick's Analysis: This fight is big for the middleweight division. Santiago's return is exciting in itself, and I can't wait to see how he handles the challenge that Stann presents. UFC 130 is going to be a really good card and Santiago's first fight in the UFC since 2006 is a big part of that.

Source: http://www.mmatorch.com/artman2/publish/UFC_2/article_8558.shtml

Rashad Evans