Sengoku Middleweight Champion Jorge Santiago Released, Eyes Move to U.S.

According to MMAFighting.com, Sengoku Middleweight champion Jorge Santiago has been released by World Victory Road:

Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago has been granted his release by the organization, MMA Fighting has learned from sources close to the promotion.

Santiago's manager Malki Kawa of Authentic Sports Management wouldn't confirm or deny that Santiago is now a free agent when reached for comment, but additional sources say Santiago is looking to sign imminently with a major North American promotion.

Santiago has spent a little under three years under World Victory Road's Sengoku banner, making his debut with the promotion in May of 2008 in a submission win over Yuki Sasaki. He followed his debut with victories over Logan Clark, Siyar Bahadurzada, and Kazuhiro Nakamura within the structure of the 2008 Sengoku Middleweight Grand Prix tournament. Those victories led to a title showdown with Japanese middleweight kingpin Kazuo Misaki in the Grand Prix finale at Sengoku Rebellion 2009, and the fight turned out to be an epic back-and-forth war that ended with Santiago submitting Misaki halfway through the fifth round of action.

After a stunning loss to Mamed Khalidov in a non-title affair at Sengoku 11, Santiago returned four months later and edged out Khalidov in a rematch at Sengoku 12 with his title on the line. His most recent win was deemed the fight of the year by Sherdog.com in 2010, a classic rematch with Kazuo Misaki at Sengoku 14 in which Santiago knocked out Misaki with 0:30 seconds remaining in the fifth and final round while being down on the scorecards.

All signs indicate that Santiago may be heading back to Strikeforce. He fought twice in the promotion at a one-night event back in November of 2007 known as Strikeforce: Four Men Enter, One Man Leaves. Many fans may recall Santiago's brutal flying knee knockout of Sean Salmon as the highlight of the evening.

Santiago also has ties to the UFC, but according to his official Twitter account -- he has expressed some interest in fighting middleweights Ronaldo Souza, Jason "Mayhem" Miller, and Robbie Lawler.

Sengoku Raiden Championships middleweight titleholder Jorge Santiago will return to the UFC in 2011.

Santiago has signed a new contract with the promotion and is expected to make his return at UFC 130 on May 28 against a to-be-named opponent.

ESPN first reported Santiago's signing on Friday, and Sherdog.com confirmed Santiago's new deal with a source close to the negotiations. Details of the Brazilian’s contract are not known at this time.

A product of the vaunted American Top Team in Florida, Santiago began his professional career in 2002. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt made his UFC debut at Fight Night 5 in 2006, knocking out Justin Levens just over two minutes into their bout. Back-to-back defeats would follow for Santiago, however, and the 30-year-old was bounced from the promotion after suffering knockouts to Chris Leben and Alan Belcher, respectively.

Santiago rebounded in 2007, winning Strikeforce's four-man, single-night middleweight grand prix, knocking out Sean Salmon and Trevor Prangley in under three minutes combined.

The well-rounded middleweight then tried his luck abroad, signing with Japan's SRC and running off five straight victories. Three of those wins occurred in the promotion's middleweight grand prix, culminating with Santiago's victory over Kazuo Misaki in 2009 to earn him the championship belt.

Santiago recently negotiated his release from the Japanese promotion, stating his desire to fight once again for a major American promotion. The fighter will now vacate the SRC middleweight title.