Ben Saunders (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

After a lengthy and successful run with Bellator, it looks like welterweight Ben Saunders is returning to the UFC.

The 31 year-old fighter was scheduled to fight Pele Landi-Jons at Titan FC’s upcoming, August 22nd card. According to a report from MMA Fighting.com, however, Landi-Jons has incurred visa troubles and will no longer be able to compete.

The UFC has reportedly offered Saunders a new deal, but since the latter was scheduled to fight for Titan FC within the next 30 days, the promotion had to grant his release. The promotion has reportedly done so.

Titan FC COO Lex McMahon was quoted saying in the aforementioned report that he hopes Saunders does “great in the UFC.”

There has been no official announcement from the UFC regarding Saunders.

Saunders hasn’t fought in the Octagon since 2010, when he was decisioned by Dennis Hallman.

Since exiting from the UFC, the American Top Team fighter has gone 8-3, and the only men to defeat him during that run are current Bellator champ Douglas Lima (twice) and Bryan Baker.