Jake Ellenberger gets replacement opponent for UFC Fight Night 131 in Utica

After Bryan Barberena was forced out due to injury, Jake Ellenberger will now meet Ben Saunders at June’s UFC Fight Night 131 event.

UFC officials today announced the welterweight booking between Ellenberger (31-13 MMA, 10-9 UFC) and Saunders (21-9-2 MMA, 7-6 UFC).

UFC Fight Night 131 will take place June 1 at Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, N.Y. The event airs on FS1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass, though the full fight card and bout order haven’t been finalized.

Ellenberger will make his 20th UFC appearance at UFC Fight Night 131. It will also mark his return to action after nearly 14 months. “The Juggernaut” has not competed since his knockout loss to Mike Perry at UFC Fight Night 108 in April, a defeat which dropped him to 2-7 in his past nine fights dating back to July 2013.

Saunders will also attempt to break out of a slump at the event. The 37-year-old has lost his past two fights by knockout against Alan Jouban and Peter Sobotta. Prior to the skid “Killa B” was a winner of five of six after he parted ways with Bellator in 2013.

The latest UFC Fight Night 131 card now includes:

• Marlon Moraes vs. Jimmie Rivera
• Walt Harris vs. Daniel Spitz
• Sijara Eubanks vs. Lauren Murphy
• Jarred Brooks vs. Hector Sandoval
• Sam Alvey vs. Gian Villante
• Gregor Gillespie vs. Vinc Pichel
• Jessica Aguilar vs. Jodie Esquibel
• Jake Ellenberger vs. Ben Saunders

For more on UFC Fight Night 131, check out the UFC Rumors section of the site.