Brazilian up-and-comer Erick Silva and veteran Jay Hieron will face each other in a welterweight bout at UFC 156 in February, UFC officials announced on Wednesday.
Silva, one of the division’s brightest young stars, was last in the octagon at UFC 153 in Brazil against top-ranked welterweight Jon Fitch. Silva lost the bout by unanimous decision, but the match-up proved to be one of more exciting of the card, earning “Fight of the Night” honors as a result.
Hieron is making his second run in the UFC with a career spanning close to 10 years. He was last seen dropping a unanimous decision to Jake Ellenberger at UFC on FX: Browne vs. Bigfoot in October, and is 1-2 in his last three fights. Hieron’s recent skid comes after winning 11 consecutive fights from 2007 to 2011.
UFC 156 takes place on Feb. 2 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Events Center.
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