Former Strikeforce champ Gilbert Melendez has been hit by injury, and his return to the octagon is on hold as the Skrap Pack fighter is off the TUF 28 Finale later this month.
Giblert Gilbert Melendez will have to wait a little longer to get back in the octagon. On Monday, the UFC announced via social media that Melendez (22-7) had suffered an injury and was out of his TUF 28 Finale fight with Arnold Allen. Taking his place on just a few weeks notice will be Rick Glenn.
Gilbert Melendez is injured.
🇬🇧 @ArnoldBFA gets a new opponent @GladiatorGlenn on the #TUF28 Finale! pic.twitter.com/0Rc76Mc1FC
— UFC Europe (@UFCEurope) November 5, 2018
The nature of Melendez”s injury was not disclosed. The former Strikeforce lightweight champion has not fought in over a year, and has appeared just once per calendar year since 2013. Having lost four straight, most recently to Jeremy Stephens at UFC 215 in September 2017, ‘El Nino’ clearly has his back against the wall.
Replacement Rick Glenn (21-5) enters the night off a victory over Dennis Bermudez in July. Glenn, a former WSOF featherweight champion, is 3-2 in the UFC overall.
Arnold Allen (13-1), meanwhile, is perfect in the UFC through four fights. Most recently, he submitted Mads Burnell at UFC Liverpool.
The Ultimate Fighter 28 Finale takes place November 30 at the Park Theatre in Las Vegas. The current season of the show features heavyweights and women’s featherweights.
