LI's Jay Hieron to fight Askren for title at Bellator 56
Jay Hieron celebrates his $100,000 paycheck as winner of Bellator's Season 4 welterweight tournament at First Council Casino in Newkirk, Okla. Hieron, from Freeport, defeated Rick Hawn via split decision. (May 7, 2011) Credit: Bellator/
Here's a bit of news that Jay Hieron may never have thought he'd hear: Hieron is scheduled to fight a title in mixed martial arts.
Since the IFL folded in 2008 with Hieron as its middleweight champion, there have three promotions, seven straight wins and zero opportunities to win a title.
But at Bellator 56 on Oct. 29, the Freeport native gets his chance. He'll fight Ben Askren in Kansas City for the Bellator middleweight championship, Hieron confirmed to Newsday on Thursday night.
Hieron (22-4) earned the shot by winning Season 4 of Bellator with victories over Anthony Lapsley, Brent Weedman and Rick Hawn.
Askren (8-0) was a two-time Division I national champion wrestler at Missouri and a 2008 Olympian.
