UFC 130 Fight Card Breakdown: Jorge Santiago vs. Brian Stann

Middleweights Brian Stann and Jorge Santiago will face off on the pay per view portion of the card at UFC 130. 

The two fighters are relatively low profile with casual fans but this fight should be seen as a major contender elimination bout. According to the USA TODAY/SBNation Consensus MMA Rankings, Santiago is the #8 ranked middleweight in the world and Stann is at #14. The winner will definitely be a top ten fighter and likely one or two fights away from a UFC title shot in 2011.

Santiago is returning to the UFC for the first time since 2006. He went 1-2 in his first UFC run and was cut after back-to-back KO losses to Chris Leben and Alan Belcher. But the 10-1 record Santiago since getting cut -- including winning the Sengoku title and Strikeforce's 2007 middleweight grand prix  -- is what has pundits ranking him in the top 10.

Most recently Santiago has beaten Kazuo Misaki in a pair of five round classics and avenged an upset loss to Mahmed Khalidov. He'll be looking to prove he belongs in the UFC and at the top of the middleweight division.

Santiago is the classic American Top Team fighter -- excellent BJJ submissions and effective Muay Thai striking. His wrestling is a weak spot, but he's a threat to finish the fight at anytime standing or on the ground. His epic wars with Misaki show that he's got a lion's heart and must be knocked out cold to be stopped. 

Stann, the former WEC light heavyweight champ, is 4-2 in the UFC but he's undefeated since moving down to 185lbs. In his most recent fight, he demolished the formidable Chris Leben with a brutal first round assault. He'll be looking to take advantage of Santiago's questionable chin. 

Stann was primarily a stand-up brawler who relied on his punching power in the WEC. Training with Greg Jackson has led to dramatic improvements in Stann's striking technique, his wrestling and his jiu jitsu. 

Ultimately, while Stann has an excellent chance to win via KO, Santiago is so well rounded and so much more experienced, I expect he'll prove he belongs back in the UFC on Saturday.