Brian Melancon Agrees to Fight Kelvin Gastulem at UFC Fight Night 27
Brian Melancon has agreed to step in for Paulo Thiago at UFC Fight Night 27, which is slated for Aug. 28 in Indianapolis.
UFC officials announced the move on Tuesday.
Thiago was slated to welcome The Ultimate Fighter 17 middleweight winner Kelvin Gastulem to the welterweight division, but after the Brazilian suffered a left knee injury, Melancon will get to do the honors.
Gastelum (6-0) defeated heavily favored Team Sonnen teammate Uriah Hall at TUF 17 Finale on April 13 in his official UFC debut, becoming the youngest winner in the reality show’s history.
In the days following the win, the 21-year-old announced that he would make the move to 170 pounds.
Melancon (7-2) made a splash in his most recent fight, which was also his UFC debut. He knocked out Seth Baczynski with just one second left in the opening round of their fight at UFC 162 on July 6.
A rematch between welterweight contenders Carlos Condit and Martin Kampmann headlines UFC Fight Night 27.
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