Erick Silva Injured, Jay Hieron Gets Strikeforce Veteran Tyron Woodley at UFC 156

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An injury to Erick Silva has forced him to withdraw from his bout with Jay Hieron at UFC 156. Instead, nine-time Strikeforce veteran Tyron Woodley will lock horns with Hieron at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on Feb. 2.

Promotion officials recently announced the new pairing. UFC 156 is the promotion’s traditional Super Bowl weekend card and will feature a featherweight title tilt between reigning champion Jose Aldo and former 155-pound king Frankie Edgar. The pay-per-view broadcast is also expected to include a 205-pound clash between Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira as well as a heavyweight bout pitting Alistair Overeem against Antonio Silva.

Woodley last competed on July 14, when he suffered a fourth-round technical knockout loss to Nate Marquardt for Strikeforce’s vacant welterweight title. The former University of Missouri wrestler went 8-1 during his Strikeforce tenure, with victories over Tarec Saffiedine, Paul Daley and Jordan Mein, among others.

Hieron is still looking for his first Octagon triumph. The Xtreme Couture representative dropped a three-round verdict to Jake Ellenberger at UFC on FX 5 this past October, his third UFC loss in as many appearances. The Strikeforce, Bellator and International Fight League veteran made his debut with the Las Vegas promotion at UFC 48, falling to Georges St. Pierre via first-round TKO at UFC 48. He also lost to Jonathan Goulet by third-round technical knockout at UFC Fight Night 2.