Jake Ellenberger vs Ben Saunders booked for UFC Utica with Bryan Barberena hurt

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is keeping welterweight “Juggernaut” Jake Ellenberger on the upcoming UFC Fight Night 131 mixed martial arts (MMA) fight card, scheduled for Fri., June 1, 2018 inside Adirondack Bank Center in Utica, New York.

With Bryan Barberena hurt, the promotion has asked 170-pound fan favorite Ben Saunders to step in and take his place.

Ellenberger (31-13) — once ranked in the top five at 170 pounds — has amassed one of the worst UFC records in recent years, going just 2-7 and getting finished five times. That was enough to get him booted from the top 15 where he remains unranked.

Saunders (21-9-2) put together an impressive 5-1 record over the past couple of years, but recently fell on hard times, succumbing to strikes against Peter Sobotta and Alan Jouban. “Killa B” turns 35 in roughly two weeks and needs to get something going sooner, rather than later.

UFC Utica will be headlined by the bantamweight showdown between Jimmie Rivera and Marlon Moraes. Elsewhere on the card, Gian Villante and Sam Avery collide in light heavyweight action.

See the latest UFC Utica fight card and line up right here.