Jon Fitch overcame a spirited challenge from hometown favourite Erick Silva to emerge victorious at UFC 153 in Rio de Janeiro.

Silva poured forward in the opening stages with reckless abandon and nearly surprised Fitch with a a choke attempt in the first round.

Fitch regained his composure in the second round and came agonisingly close to ending the fight with a powerful armbar attempt.

Silva tired considerably in the third round and was no match for Fitch in the closing stages as he maintained a relentless pace to earn a unanimous decision on the judges' scorecards.

Fitch told Joe Rogan in the post-fight interview that nothing would have stood in his way from earning a vital win.

He said: "I didn't have a choice, I would have beat anybody today.

"My family needed this win and I needed this win, so I did what I needed to do."

The former UFC welterweight title challenger improves his record to 24-4 in his first fight of 2012.