Jorge Santiago file photo: Sherdog.com
TOKYO -- When the Sengoku Raiden Championship middleweight title is on the line, Jorge Santiago always seems to put forth a dramatic roller coaster of a performance. His SRC 14 rematch with Kazuo Misaki -- whom he defeated with a come-from-behind rear-naked choke in the fifth round to win the title in January 2009 -- was no exception, replete with drubbings, comebacks, and close calls for both men.
Though not typically made available by Japanese promotions, Sherdog.com has obtained the scorecards for this 2010 fight of the year candidate. See below for this exclusive look into how SRC judges were sizing up the fight before its dramatic fifth round ending, as well as an exclusive interview with the champion immediately after the fight. Santiago recaps his thoughts on the bout, Misaki, the scorecards, and what's ahead in his immediate future.
Judges Had Santiago Down on All Three Cards Going into the Fifth
Round one was the closest on the scorecards. Though Misaki scored two takedowns, two of the judges apparently erred on the side of caution, deeming the exchanges on the feet and on the mat as not enough to award the round to either fighter.
Tenshin Matsumoto: 10-10
Ryogaku Wada: 10-10
Masato Fukuda: 10-9 Misaki
Continue Reading » SRC 14: Scorecard Breakdown of Santiago-Misaki 2; Santiago's Reaction