Tarec Saffiedine (right) (photo via UFC.com)

By FCF Staff

Tarec Saffiedine will fight at UFC on FOX 18 next Saturday, and when he does, it will have been three months since he was at his homebase in Temecula, California.

Saffiedine will take on Jake Ellenberger at the upcoming event, and in preparation for the fight, he headed from Team Quest in Temcecula, to Montreal’s Tristar gym. Recently Saffiedine spoke to UFC.com, and while doing so, the Belgian fighter had this to say about his decision:

“I needed a change in my training, and my training partners and trainers as well,” the former Strikeforce welterweight champ said. “I have nothing bad to say about Team Quest and we didn’t have any bad blood or anything like that. I just needed a change. After eight years there, I felt it was time to find new ways and learn new stuff.”

The 29 year-old fighter hasn’t fought since October, 2014, when he was stopped by Tristar’s Rory MacDonald. Saffiedine (15-3) had won five straight prior to the loss.

UFC on FOX 18 will be hosted by the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.