The planned UFC 151 co-headliner has found a new home, as promotion officials announced Thursday that Jake Ellenberger’s welterweight rematch with Jay Hieron has been transplanted to UFC on FX 5.
UFC on FX 5 goes down Oct. 5 from the Target Center in Minneapolis and is headlined by a heavyweight collision pitting former EliteXC champion Antonio Silva against Hawaiian prospect Travis Browne.
Hieron and Ellenberger first met during their time in the defunct International Fight League, with Hieron emerging victorious in their 2006 clash. Following that win, “The Thoroughbred” went on to capture the IFL welterweight belt before fighting his way to a Bellator title shot against Ben Askren. After falling by split decision to “Funky” last October, Hieron negotiated his way out of his Bellator contract and recently rejoined the UFC after a one-fight stint with the Texas-based Legacy Fighting Championship.
Ellenberger, 27, enters the cage nine years younger than his foe. “The Juggernaut” was recently finished by well-rounded Dane Martin Kampmann on June 1 at “The Ultimate Fighter 15” finale, marking just the second setback of his UFC career. The defeat snapped a six-fight winning streak for Ellenberger, who had bested the likes of Diego Sanchez, Jake Shields, Sean Pierson and Mike Pyle dating back to January 2010.