Another top Strikeforce fighter has been welcomed into the UFC fold. Welterweight contender Tyron Woodley will replace an injured Erick Silva opposite Jay Hieron at UFC 156, promotion officials announced on Wednesday night.
UFC 156 takes place February 2, 2013 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV. A featherweight superfight pitting current champion Jose Aldo against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar headlines the night’s pay-per-view card.
With the short-notice fill-in, Woodley (10-1) joins an ever-growing list of Strikeforce veterans to transfer over to Zuffa’s primary promotion. The 30-year-old racked up an impressive 8-1 record in four years under the Strikeforce banner, culminating in an electrifying loss to Nate Marquardt last July for the vacant welterweight title.
Standing across the cage will be Hieron (23-6), who eyes an elusive first UFC victory in his fourth attempt. Following a successful run through Bellator’s season four welterweight tournament, Hieron was scheduled to rematch Jake Ellenberger in the co-main event of UFC 151. That bout ultimately shifted over to UFC on FX 5, where Hieron fell short in the eyes of the judges, losing a unanimous decision.