Gilbert Melendez

By FCF Staff

Gilbert Melendez won’t have to wait long for his next bout, as following his loss to Eddie Alvarez last weekend, he’s been booked to fight July 15th.

The UFC has confirmed that the former Strikeforce champ has agreed to step in for the injured Bobby Green at UFC FN 71, and will face Al Iaquinta. The bout will go down at the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego.

Melendez (22-5) battered Alvarez early on at UFC 188, but the latter battled back, and was handed a tightly contested, split decision win. Melendez was coming off a submission loss to now former champ Anthony Pettis.

Iaquinta (12-3-1), meanwhile, has won four straight. The heavy handed fighter worked his way to a razor thin, split decision win over Jorge Masvidal in his last outing, which took place in April.

UFC FN 71 will be headlined by a heavyweight fight between Frank Mir and Todd Duffee.