Jay Hieron. Photo Credit: Esther Lin/Strikeforce

By Joshua Carey

Veteran welterweight Jay Hieron will not be returning for Bellator’s upcoming welterweight tournament.

A source close to the situation today confirmed the news with Full Contact Fighter.

Bellator’s welterweight  tournament is currently scheduled to kick off in the spring of this year.

Hieron won the organization’s most recent tournament in 2011 and earned the right to challenge champion Ben Askren for the title.

Despite dropping a decision to the aforementioned Askren, Hieron won’t return to the tournament format but instead will likely take part in a Superfight as the 170-pound tournament is taking place.

Hieron will remain with his team at Xtreme Couture in Las Vegas, where he’ll continue training and preparing for his next fight.