Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia Booked For UFC 156 In February

Jon Fitch

Jon Fitch and Demian Maia meet at UFC 156

UFC officials announced the addition of a welterweight contest between Jon Fitch and Demian Maia at UFC 156 in February.

UFC officials announced the match up last week.

UFC 156 takes place Feb. 2 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas.  The main event features a title fight between featherweight champion Jose Aldo and former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar. UFC officials have not announced whether Fitch vs. Maia will air with the main card on pay-per-view or the preliminary broadcast.

Maia has found new life in the welterweight division. The Brazillian native is now riding a two-fight winning streak since dropping to welterweight with wins over Rick Story and Dong Hyun Kim. Although considered to be one of the best jiu-jitsu practitioners in the UFC, his rear-naked choke over Story was his first submission win since tapping out Chael Sonnen in 2009.

Fitch recently returned to the win column with a "Fight of the Night" performance in his win against Erick Silva at UFC 153 in Brazil. Before the win, Fitch suffered a shocking knockout at the hands of Johny Hendricks at UFC 141, which followed a majority decision draw against B.J. Penn in February 2011. Leading up to the Silva fight, Fitch stated he was experiencing some financial woes and a loss could possibly mean he would have to pick up a full-time job along with fighting.

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