UFC 130: Brian Stann on Wanderlei Silva, Jorge Santiago and Anderson Silva

After triumphantly knocking out Chris Leben, Brian Stann called for Wanderlei Silva.

The fight made perfect sense. Both guys are coming off big wins. Both guys are stand-up fighters, and both guys are very popular with the fans.

Silva, however, did not see it the way. He declined the match-up.

Instead, Silva decided to fight…Chris Leben?

“I just think the fight didn’t interest him-to be quite honest,” Stann told Bleacher Report about the former Pride champion’s choice.

“When you’re a guy like Wanderlei – a legend in the sport – the right fights are what you need to motivate you.”

In Silva’s place steps in a potentially more dangerous opponent with a lot less fanfare, Jorge Santiago. Santiago is the current middleweight champion for the Japanese based Sengoku promotion, although it is unknown if that promotion will ever run another show.

“I’ve watched every fight I can find on him,” Stann said about Santiago. “I think he’s a great fighter. The guy’s been in the top 10 for the past two years. He relinquished one world title to come to the UFC.”

“After beating Chris Leben,” Stann said, “this is the kind of fight I want. I want to fight up. I don’t care who’s more well-known.”

Since leaving the UFC back in December 2006, Santiago has gone 11-1. Among the fighters Santiago has defeated are Jeremy Horn, Kazuhiro Nakamura, Kaz Misaki (twice) and fast-rising Polish fighter Mamed Khalidov.

Santiago’s second win over Misaki in August 2010 was one of the top fights of the year.

“He didn’t come to the UFC to fight Brian Stann,” the former Marine said. “He came to the UFC to win the middleweight title, and it just so happens I am his first challenge.”

Even though Stann has a substantial amount of respect for his opponent, the odds makers do not completely agree. Stann is currently listed as the favorite at minus140.

However, before he began his career as a professional fighter, Stann was a highly decorated member of the U.S. Marines. In March 2006, Stann was awarded the Silver Star, which is the third highest award for valor in combat.

Recent world events have caused Stann to think about both fighting and politics.

“I just returned from the gym when I saw the news,” Stann said when asked about Osama Bin Laden’s death. “The reaction was obviously extremely positive.”

“It’s easy for people who aren’t in Afghanistan or the Middle East to say it’s horrible that we’re over there. The people saying that are not the people living over there who are being murdered. Being over there is important. Hopefully, we get things to where we don’t have to be over there.”

Stann believes a lot of good can come from Bin Laden’s demise.

“What we may be able to see is that the Middle East and western culture can live in harmony,” Stann said, “especially when the people start to realize that they are not happy and that our culture isn’t as bad as they were taught growing up.”

Even with all the current political turmoil, Stann has remained focused on the upcoming fight. He believes that a win over Santiago would be a tremendous boon to his career.

“There are a lot of guys who have more well-known names than Santiago, but we all well know they are not as good as him,” Stann said.

“With a win, I am absolutely in consideration for a title shot.”

Should Stann eventually get to the number one contender spot, he could face one of the top mixed martial artists of all-time for the championship, Anderson Silva.

“Athletically, he’s a fighter the likes we haven’t seen before in the UFC,” Stann said of Silva. “Hand-eye coordination, speed, strength, and agility. I love watching him fight. I hope he doesn’t retire anytime soon because I would love to fight Anderson Silva.”

Before Stann can turn his thoughts towards the middleweight title, he’ll have to first defeat Santiago.

“I think we’re going to go out there and Jorge is going to try to execute a game plan and try to fight me at long range,” Stann said. “He’s going to try to get me on the mat to use his jiu-jitsu.”

“I think he’s going to fail there, and I’m going to win by knockout.”