UFC 130: Brain Stann vs. Jorge Santiago: Results, Thoughts and Opinions

UFC 130: Rampage vs. Hamill had much criticism leading up to the event.

Many people were not too excited about the fight card matchups, and the pay-per-view buys suffered because of it.

In the first fight of the night’s main card, U.S. Marine Captain Brian Stann, took on American Top Team fighter, Jorge Santiago in a middleweight matchup that was more anticipated than the main event.

“Santiago is known for having great battles,” said Stann. “This is going to be the best fight on the card tonight.”

“I see this fight tonight going with my arm raised by the end of the first round by KO or submission,” Santiago countered.

While it might not have been the best fight, it certainly didn’t disappoint.

In the beginning of Round 1, the opponents greeted each other in the center of the octagon ready to go toe-to-toe.

Both come out with good movement but, Santiago seemed to have found his rhythm early, until Stann opened up.

They exchanged blows quickly and both pulled back, keeping light on their toes. 

Santiago decided to stand and trade with Stann for the first minute of the fight while eating mean leg kicks form the former Marine. 

Santiago seemed hesitant and seemed to have lost the rhythm that he started the fight with and slips and falls to the canvas, looking like a knockdown for a second. 

Stann, continued working the leg kicks while Satiago looks for the straight right.

Stann counters and drops Santiago then, he lays on the ground-and-pound thick and heavy. 

Stann kept pounding away until Santiago looked noticably hurt, but he hangs on with one minute to go. 

Santiago ties Stann up briefly, but Stann drops more heavy bombs, connecting on the chin and face of Santiago. 

Santiago gets back to his feet with nine seconds left in the first round and the bell ends.

Round 2 starts and Saniago clinches Stann against the cage, attempting to avoid the hard rights of Stann. 

Stann, again punishes Santiago with vicious leg kicks while throwing overhand and straight rights, looking for the KO. 

Santiago seems to have not fully recovered from Round 1 but stays in the standup war with Stann. 

Both fighters stand in the center of the octagon and let the punches fly. 

Stann rocks Santiago again, and Santiago throws a spinning backfist, barely missing Stann.

Santiago begins slowing down with his strikes, and Stann catches him with a big right to the temple. 

Santiago goes down, and Stann follows up with hard punches to the chin, connecting and putting the talented middleweight into a comatose and painful-looking nap. 

Santiago never seemed to find his rhythm, and Stann never let up. 

In the end, this fight was all Stann as he took home the win for Memorial Day weekend. 

Always performing with style and class, Stann dropped to his knees after the victory in what appeared to be a moment of silence in tribute to our fallen veterans on this Memorial Day weekend.

Congratulations, Brian Stann and thank you for your service and sacrifice and thanks to all of our fallen military men and women and their families.