A middleweight match-up between recently fallen contenders Michael Bisping (23-5) and Alan Belcher (18-7) will serve as the co-main event of UFC 159. ESPN.com first reported the bout, which was then confirmed by UFC officials.
UFC 159 takes place April 27, 2013 at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. A light heavyweight title tilt pitting Jon Jones against Chael Sonnen headlines the event, along with previously confirmed bouts Phil Davis vs. Vinny Magalhaes, Cheick Kongo vs. Roy Nelson and Jim Miller vs. Pat Healy.
Bisping, 33, looks to rebound after falling victim to a Vitor Belfort second-round head kick earlier this month, in the process losing another guaranteed shot at UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Prior to the setback, TUF 3 winner Bisping had rolled off five victories in six fights, with the only loss come via contentious decision to the division’s perennial No. 2, Sonnen.
Likewise, Belcher, 28, recently had his four-fight win streak snapped, losing an uninspired decision to Yushin Okami at UFC 155. Belcher holds notable finishes over Rousimar Palhares, Patrick Cote and Denis Kang, and has called out Bisping on numerous occasions in the past.