In a beautiful display of powerful striking, Brian Stann pummeled Jorge Santiago and won a second-round TKO on Saturday at UFC 130.
Stann dropped Santiago with a big left hand to the jaw in the first round and had him badly hurt on the ground, and although he wasn't able to finish, he completely dominated the final minute of the round, as Santiago had no answer. In the second Santiago, perhaps realizing that Stann had the better of him in the stand-up, attempted to start the round with a takedown. But Stann had no trouble stuffing it, and he continued controlling the stand-up until he knocked Santiago down, pounded him several times on the ground, and gave referee Herb Dean no choice but to stop the fight.
"I'm ecstatic -- Jorge Santiago is a true champion," Stann said afterward.
A Navy veteran, Stann dedicated his Memorial Day weekend victory to fallen American soldiers. The victory improved Stann's professional MMA record to 11-3, and made clear that he's among the top middleweights in all of MMA.
For Santiago, who fell to 23-9, it was a rough loss in his return to the UFC . Santiago has been great in Japan over the last five years since going 1-2 in a previous UFC run, but this fight showed once again that the best competition is inside the Octagon, and Santiago wasn't ready for Stann.
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Gleison Tibau def. Rafaello Oliveira
Gleison Tibau at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Gleison Tibau def. Rafaello Oliveira
Gleison Tibau throws punches against Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Gleison Tibau def. Rafaello Oliveira
Gleison Tibau throws a punch against Rafaello Oliveira at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Gleison Tibau def. Rafaello Oliveira
Rafaello Oliveira is ready to face Gleison Tibau at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso
Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso
Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso
Michael McDonald gets kicked by Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Michael McDonald def. Chris Cariaso
Michael McDonald (right) punches Chris Cariaso at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
- Renan Barao def. Cole Escovedo Renan Barao def. Cole Escovedo at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011. Esther Lin for MMA Fighting
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Renan Barao def. Cole Escovedo
Renan Barao punches Cole Escovedo at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Renan Barao def. Cole Escovedo
Renan Barao readies to face Cole Escovedo at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Brian Stann celebrates his second-round knockout win at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Jorge Santiago is checked out at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Brian Stann punches Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Brian Stann punches Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Brian Stann punches Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Jorge Santiago punches Brian Stann at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Jorge Santiago throws a head kick at Brian Stann at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Demetrious Johnson def. Miguel Torres
Demetrious Johnson def. Miguel Torres at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Demetrious Johnson def. Miguel Torres
Demetrious Johnson paces around the cage at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Demetrious Johnson def. Miguel Torres
Miguel Torres on top of Demetrious Johnson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 Photos
Miguel Torres gets ready for his UFC 130 fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Tim Boetsch def. Kendall Grove
Tim Boetsch punches Kendall Grove at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Tim Boetsch def. Kendall Grove
Tim Boetsch takes down Kendall Grove at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve
Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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UFC 130 photos
Travis Browne knocks out Stefan Struve at UFC 130. Check out all our photos from Saturday's event by clicking view gallery.
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Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve
Travis Browne def. Stefan Struve at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Rick Story def. Thiago Alves at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Rick Story takes a knee from Thiago Alves at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Rick Story takes down Thiago Alves at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Thiago Alves throws a punch at Rick Story at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rick Story def. Thiago Alves
Thiago Alves throws a punch at Rick Story at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill showing signs of fatigue at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill ties up with Rampage Jackson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson punches Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson punches Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson punches Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill takes a breather against the fence at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Rampage Jackson makes his entrance to face Matt Hamill at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Rampage Jackson def. Matt Hamill
Matt Hamill supporters hold up signs at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson returns to his locker room after losing to Frank Mir at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Frank Mir on top of Roy Nelson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson battles Frank Mir at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson is tired at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Frank Mir strikes Roy Nelson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson and Frank Mir touch gloves at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Roy Nelson is ready to face Frank Mir at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Frank Mir def. Roy Nelson
Frank Mir makes his entrance against Roy Nelson at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Brian Stann punches Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann vs. Jorge Santiago
Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago
Brian Stann def. Jorge Santiago at UFC 130 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 28, 2011.
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