The Ultimate Fighting Championship's (UFC) annual Superbowl weekend show is continuing to add fun match ups as a welterweight bout between Erick Silva and Jay Hieron has been added to the Feb. 2, 2013, event.
Both men are coming off disappointing defeats with Silva having lost to Jon Fitch at UFC 153 last October while Hieron was defeated by Jake Ellenberger one week earlier at UFC on FX 5.
UFC officials confirmed the bout via Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.
Silva (14-3, 1 NC) took part in the 'Fight of the Night' against Fitch at UFC 153, however, he was unable to defeat the grizzled veteran and suffered his first legitimate defeat since 2006. Fitch was a giant step up in competition for Silva, and the Brazilian proved in the fight he is capable of hanging with he best.
The 28-year-old will continue to fight at the top level of the UFC welterweight division when he takes on a UFC, Strikeforce, Bellator, Affliction and IFL veteran in Hieron.
Hieron (23-6) did not return to the UFC in the fashion he had hoped. After over 7 years away from the big stage, "The Thoroughbred" was outpointed by Ellenberger and dropped his overall UFC record to a dysmal 0-3.
If the 36-year-old hopes to get his first UFC win in February, he need to get past an extremely skilled opponent in Silva.
UFC 156: 'Aldo vs. Edgar' goes down Feb. 2, 2013, from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV. The main event of the evening will see UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo attempt to make his fourth title defense against former UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.
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Erick Silva vs. Jay Hieron on tap for UFC 156 on Superbowl weekend
After suffering defeats to Jon Fitch and Jake Ellenberger respectively in the month of October, UFC welterweights Erick Silva and Jay Hieron will tangle at UFC 156 on Superbowl weekend (Feb. 2, 2013).