An intriguing welterweight match with significant divisional relevance has been confirmed for UFC 156 by the promotion’s Brazilian wing.
Erick Silva and Jay Hieron will clash this coming February on the still-growing Las Vegas card, which takes place at the Mandalay Bay Events Center. Both welterweights are coming off hard losses, but this fight should provide some critical support for the upcoming event.
UFC Brazil just made the call earlier today via its official Twitter account:
Luta do #UFC156, dia 2/2/13 – Erick Silva Vs. Jay Hieron – CONFIRMADISSIMA! — UFC Brasil (@ufc_brasil) November 21, 2012
That makes the fifth official fight for UFC 156, which is currently headlined by a featherweight title fight between Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar. Here’s how the card looks so far:
- Jose Aldo vs. Frankie Edgar
- Rashad Evans vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
- Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva
- Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia
- Erick Silva vs. Jay Hieron
Erick Silva most recently turned heads with a gritty “Fight of the Night” performance in Rio de Janeiro, battling Jon Fitch to a decision at UFC 153. He put up a solid fight with tight submission attempts but eventually wilted under the pressure of Fitch’s consistent wrestling attack.
Hieron is coming off a loss against Jake Ellenberger at UFC on FX 5, but unlike previous UFC appearances, the former Bellator competitor is not getting bounced after one defeat. Hieron is currently on his third UFC stint with prior runs ending in one-and-done losses against Georges St-Pierre and now-retired Jonathan Goulet.
Both Silva and Hieron are still hot commodities in the welterweight division despite recent setbacks. Silva may even find himself entering the title hunt with a win—the young Team Nogueira fighter entered the UFC on a 10-fight winning streak and hadn’t legitimately lost a fight in the promotion before facing Fitch.
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