Brown Replaces Jung Against Yahya at UFC ‘Fight for the Troops 2’

Mike Thomas Brown | Jeff Sherwood/Sherdog.com

News of the bout was first reported by MMA Junkie on Friday afternoon, and Sherdog.com has confirmed the report with sources close to the negotiations. “Fight for the Troops 2” will go down Jan. 22 from Fort Hood near Killeen, Texas. The event will raise money for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund.

Brown is less than one week removed from a hard-fought split decision loss to Diego Nunes at UFC 125 on New Year's Day. Once a dominant featherweight champion for the WEC, Brown had a 10-fight win streak ended at WEC 44 in 2009, losing the title to Jose Aldo by second-round knockout. Since that defeat, Brown has gone just 2-2, losing bouts to Nunes and Manny Gamburyan, while besting Anthony Morrison and Cole Province. A brown belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Brown holds 13 of his 24 career wins by submission.

Yahya comes off back-to-back defeats, losing to Takeya Mizugaki and Joseph Benavidez at WEC 48 and 45, respectively. Prior to those losses, however, the Brazilian had won three straight contests, besting Yoshihiro Maeda, John Hosman and former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland. Yahya earned “Submission of the Night” honors for each of those three victories. The 26-year-old contended for the 135-pound title in 2007, dropping a unanimous decision to Chase Beebe at WEC 30.