Brown and Silva collide in battle of explosive welterweights at UFC Fight Night 40

UFC Fight Night 40 is live in Cincinnati on Saturday night. Ohio's own Matt Brown takes on Erick Silva in a battle between two of the welterweight division's most devastating finishers, with an opportunity to make a statement as future contenders.

Brown, riding a six-fight winning streak heading into to Saturday night's main event, has come a long way from dropping four of five fights between 2010 and 2011. What's more impressive is the 33-year-old has managed to register a knockout or TKO in five of his last six victories.

Inconsistencies aside, Silva remains one of the most promising welterweight prospects in the UFC. Earning a Performance of the Night bonus in February after finishing Takenori Sato in just under a minute, the Brazilian's power and raw athleticism are his greatest assets, and he's one of the fastest starters in the entire promotion.

While there's been no official word on either fighter will get a guaranteed title shot with a win, a convincing victory would go a long way in presenting a legitimate case for the opportunity.

UFC Fight Night 40 gets started with the early prelims on UFC Fight Pass at 6:30 p.m. ET, followed by the prelims at 8 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 2, and main card at 10 p.m. ET on FOX Sports 1.

Here's a look at the full fight card: