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New UFC 151 co-main event booked

Submitted by Fred Richani on Wed, 08/08/2012 - 14:57

MMA veteran returns to Zuffa fold.

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According to MMAJunkie.com, MMA veteran Jay Hieron (23-5) is returning to the UFC for the first time in seven years.

MMAJunkie.com reports that Hieron will fill in for the injured Josh Koscheck (17-6) to take on Jake Ellenberger (27-6) in the co-main event of the UFC 151 pay-per-view, taking place September 1 in Denver, CO. 

Back in 2006, Ellenberger (who was 12-0 at the time) was handed his first professional MMA loss by Hieron via unanimous decision in the IFL. 

Hieron has won 11 of his last 12 fights, with the lone loss in that stretch coming against Bellator welterweight champion Ben Askren via controversial split decision. In his last fight on July 13, Hieron defeated Romario da Silva via D'Arce choke submission on Round Two under the Legacy Fighting Championship banner.

In two Octagon appearances, Hieron is 0-2, most infamously getting TKO'ed in the first round by a young Georges St-Pierre in 2004 at UFC 46. His overall record since leaving the UFC is 16-3.

Fast Facts about Jay Hieron:

  • Bellator Season 4 Welterweight Tournament Winner
  • Two-time NJCAA All-American Wrestler (1996, 1997)
  • Former IFL welterweight champion
  • Notable wins over Pat Healy, Jake Ellenberger, Joe Riggs, Jason High, Brent Weedman, and Rick Hawn.

UFC 151 takes place September 1 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, NV and airs live at 10pm/ET on pay-per-view.

Current UFC 151 card

UFC light heavyweight championship: Jon Jones (16-1) vs. Dan Henderson (29-8)

Welterweight bout: Jake Ellenberger (27-6) vs. Jay Hieron (23-5). Update: Officially confirmed as co-main.

Lightweight bout: Michael Johnson (11-6) vs. Danny Castillo (14-4)

Welterweight bout: Charlie Brenneman vs. Kyle Noke (19-6-1)

Lightweight bout: Shane Roller (11-6) vs. Jacob Volkmann (14-3)

Lightweight bout: Thiago Tavares (17-4-1) vs. Dennis Hallman (51-14-2, 1 NC)

Featherweight bout: Dennis Siver (20-8) vs. Eddie Yagin (16-5-1)

Flyweight bout: John Lineker (19-6) vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani (19-5-6)

Bantamweight bout: Takeya Mizugaki (15-7-2) vs Jeff Hougland (10-5)

Lightweight bout: Tim Means (18-3-1) vs. Abel Trujillo (9-4)

Lightweight bout: Daron Cruickshank (11-2) vs. Henry Martinez (9-2)