Edwin Figueroa vs. Francisco Rivera added to UFC 156

The UFC has added a bantamweight bout to the UFC 156 card on February 2nd as Edwin Figueroa will take on Francisco Rivera. UFC 156

UFC officials announced the fight booking on Wednesday and this fight will take place on the preliminary card.

Figueroa (9-1) made his UFC debut in the beginning of 2011 and has gone 2-1 in the organization. In his UFC debut, he lost a decision to Michael McDonald which was the fight of the night at UFC Fight Night 24.

Since losing his UFC debut, he has won back to back fights with the most recent victory coming at UFC 143, which was a split decision win over Alex Caceres. Caceres was deducted two points in the fight for kicks to the groin, which led to Figueroa getting the victory. He was scheduled to return at UFC on FX 4 earlier this year, but he had to pull out of his fight against Ken Stone with an injury.

Rivera (8-2, 1NC) made his way to the UFC in the merger with the WEC and has a UFC record of 1-1, 1NC. His last fight took place at UFC 149 in Calgary against Alex Soto, which he originally won by knockout. However, the fight was declared a no contest when he tested for a banned substance.

UFC 156 takes place on February 2nd from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be headlined by Jose Aldo defending the UFC featherweight title against former lightweight champion Frankie Edgar.