Jay Hieron returns to the UFC on short notice to face Jake Ellenberger at UFC 151 in rematch

With an injury to Josh Koscheck, someone needed to step up on short notice to fight Jake Ellenberger at UFC 151.

Enter "The Thoroughbred."

It took seven long years, but Xtreme Couture fighter Jay Hieron is finally making his return to the UFC (via MMA Weekly). Since a pair of UFC losses including a 2004 knockout at the hands of current UFC champion Georges St. Pierre, Hieron has gone 16-3 in a wide array of promotions ranging from the IFL, Affliction, Strikeforce and Bellator.

Hieron (23-5) was supposed to fight for the Strikeforce welterweight title, but politics got in the way. He then signed with Bellator where he won the season four welterweight tournament and lost a very close split decision to undefeated champion Ben Askren.

After getting his release from Bellator, he signed with Legacy Fighting Championships and competed just four weeks ago, scoring a second round technical submission over Romario da Silva via D'Arce choke.

Believe it or not, this is actually a rematch against Ellenberger.

Both welterweight met originally at IFL Championship 2006 in Atlantic City where Hieron earned the nod via unanimous decision over "The Juggernaut."

Ellenberger (27-6) most recently had his six fight UFC winning streak snapped by Martin Kampmann in the main event of UFC on Fuel TV 3. The Reign MMA fighter. Prior to that, he was in serious contention for a title shot after a strong performance against Diego Sanchez.

Now, on top of trying to get back in the title picture, he'll be out for revenge.

UFC 151 will feature a light heavyweight championship showdown pitting division titleholder Jon Jonescontinuing his assault on the 205-pound weight class by taking on former Strikeforce straphanger and grizzled PRIDE veteran Dan Henderson.

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