UFC 111: Matt Riddle vs Greg Soto booked for March 27 with Ricardo Funch hurt

The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 7 alum Matt Riddle (3-1) has been rebooked for the preliminary card of the upcoming UFC 111 event opposite Greg Soto (7-0) for the promtion's return trip to The Prudential Center on March 27 in Newark, NJ.

Soto replaces Ricardo Funch, who was forced to withdraw from the event with a foot laceration according to MMAWeekly.

During the Spike TV reality show, Riddle immediately made a name for himself by turning Dan Simmler inside-out via crushing knockout. It was a highlight reel finish that propelled him into the next round; however, his inexperience was exposed after getting submitted by eventual finalist, Tim Credeur.

Unfazed, Riddle found success inside the Octagon early and often, winning three out of his first four UFC fights since his professional debut at TUF 7 Finale, a unanimous decision win over rival house member Dante Rivera.

He followed that up with judge's nods over Steve Bruno (Fight Night 17) and Dan Cramer (UFC 101) before Nick Osipzcak put a violent end to his hot streak via technical knockout at UFC 105 last November.

Like his run in the TUF house, he now has a chance to rebound on March 27 and get back to his winning ways.

Standing in his way is Soto, who makes his UFC debut after remaining perfect through seven fights in his mixed martial arts career.

The New Jersey native and student of Kurt Pellegrino cut his teeth on the independent circuit in promotions like Ring of Combat and World Cagefighting Alliance. He has a well rounded arsenal with two (T)KO and three submission victories to his name.

He was last seen choking out Ray Steinbeiss at "Beatdown at 4 Bears 5" last October.

UFC 111 will feature a 170-pound title defense by promotion superstar Georges St. Pierre as "Rush" answers the call of British striker Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy. Heavyweights Frank Mir and Shane Carwin are also set to collide in an interim title match while Brock Lesnar recovers from recent surgery.

To check out the latest UFC 111 fight card and rumors click here.