By Guilherme Cruz

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On UFC’s cage, Jorge Santiago won one out off three bouts. Since he left the event there were 11 wins and three belts earned. And that’s the “reborn” Jorge we’ll see in action on UFC 130, event that happens on May 28th, in Las Vegas, United States. “I’m feeling young. I’m starting it all over again, falling in love with the sport again, I’m happier to train, reminding how I began… You’ll see Jorge Santiago moving forwards, more aggressiveness, wanting to play the game harder. I’ll play my game as I do on the gym” guarantees the fighter, who gave an interview to TATAME to comment on his expectations for the duel with the striker Brian Stann, to analyze his weight class on UFC and to comment his left of American Top Team.

How does it feel to return to UFC being respected, since you were a champion on Sengoku?

It was pretty cool, I’m thrilled. I have to show my skills here. I’m coming back, but I have my feet on the ground, I’m training hard to make a good impression. I’m aware of my position now, I’ll fight again like I was doing back in Japan so I can be on a main card. I know it’s all worth it when you go there and win a fight, so I’m training hard. On May 28th I’ll go there and move a step forwards until I reach the top.

What do you think of Brian Stann, your immediate opponent?

What he can bring me is an athletic fighter, his soldier mind, his power. His striking game is good. He hasn’t proven he can play anywhere. His fights are finished quickly, always standing, so I believe I’ll bring a new game for him, because I can fight anywhere. He’ll have to do it all with me. But, besides that, he’s a great athlete, he’s strong and he has a good mind. I also have it, and I can handle the fight anywhere it goes.

Do you believe the ground game is your best alternative on this bout?

The ground game clearly is what I have of more dangerous to bring him, but I believe I’ll have to mix it all up. I still haven’t seen him doing that, I have only seen him fighting standing up, hitting his opponents hard. I believe I’ll mix everything up and see what happens. I’ll have the chances, one way or another.

What do you think of your weight class? What challenges do you see on your way?

There’re great names coming up. They’re taking the best guys on MMA and adding them to UFC’s cast. I’m thrilled. They’ve put me to fight a guy who’s considered a guy who can be one of the top contenders of the division. There’s no easy fight there, there’s no other way.

Conan Silveira confirmed yesterday to TATAME that you, Gesias and the Villefort brothers left ATT. What made you mind?

I don’t have much to say about it, I’m not feeling like talking about it, but that’s truth, we left to prepare our own trainings. We believe it’s best for our careers. Everybody has a way to handle a gym, and we thought it was best for us to leave the gym and train with each other that things will be best for us.

Who will you train with? Will you keep training with Bigfoot, who’s already left?

I’ve always trained with Bigfoot. After he left ATT, I went to his camps, we did sparrings and I keep training with him. Now we’ll train with each other more often. There’s Gesias, who’s training with us, Danilo and Yuri… There’re people that will keep training with us, and I can’t point out all of their names now. The only sure thing is that our training is good and that I’m focused. There won’t be a lack of trainings, you can be sure of that…

What the fans can expect of this “new” Jorge Santiago on UFC?

I’m feeling young. I’m starting it all over again, falling in love with the sport again, I’m happier to train, reminding how I began… You’ll see Jorge Santiago moving forwards, more aggressiveness, wanting to play the game harder. I’ll play my game as I do on the gym.