Dan Hardy-Matt Brown Welterweight Scrap Greenlit for UFC on Fox 7 in San Jose

The welterweight contest becomes the third bout to join the card, which takes place at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. The bill is topped by a lightweight title conflict between reigning UFC king Benson Henderson and former Strikeforce titlist Gilbert Melendez and will also feature a co-headlining heavyweight showdown pitting Strikeforce grand prix winner Daniel Cormier against ex-UFC champ Frank Mir.

Hardy, 30, has won back-to-back fights heading into his showdown with Brown. The surge follows a four-fight skid for the hard-punching Brit, who rebounded from the stretch by knocking out veteran Duane Ludwig to kick off 2012. Most recently, “The Outlaw” topped Amir Sadollah on Sept. 29, outpointing “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 7 winner at UFC on Fuel TV 5.

Brown, meanwhile, has won his last four fights, most recently knocking out Mike Swick to close out 2012 at UFC on Fox 5. That triumph followed victories over Chris Cope, Stephen Thompson and Luis Ramos, as “The Immortal” returned to his winning ways following a 1-4 stretch from March 2010 to November 2011. Brown, 32, has stopped 14 of his 16 career victims and has never been knocked out in more than seven years as a pro.