Al Iaquinta has a new opponent for UFC Fight Night 71 as he will now meet former Strikeforce champion Gilbert Melendez in the co-main event of the fight card.
The new fight booking was announced on Fox Sports Live on Wednesday evening.
UFC Fight Night 71 will come from the Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, California and will be headlined by a heavyweight bout as former UFC champion Frank Mir meets Todd Duffee.
Melendez (22-5) has dropped back to back fights and is coming off a split decision lost to Eddie Alvarez last weekend at UFC 188. He is 1-3 in the UFC and the win came against Diego Sanchez in 2013. Iaquinta (12-3-1) is currently on a four fight winning streak and is 7-1 since losing to Michael Chiesa at The Ultimate Fighter 15 Final. He is coming off a decision win against Jorge Masvidal in April and this will be his third fight in 2015.
The current UFC Fight Night 71: Mir vs. Duffee fight card is below.
Frank Mir (17-9) vs. Todd Duffee (9-2)
Al Iaquinta (12-3-1) vs. Gilbert Melendez (22-5)
Josh Thomson (20-7, 1NC) vs. Tony Ferguson (18-3)
Alan Jouban (11-3) vs. Matt Dwyer (8-2)
Jessica Andrade (12-4) vs. Sarah Moras (4-1)
Sam Sicilia (14-5) vs. Doo Ho Choi (12-1)
Scott Jorgensen (15-10) vs. Manny Gamburyan (14-8, 1NC)
Kevin Lee (10-1) vs. James Moontasri (8-2)
Igor Araujo (25-7, 1NC) vs. Sean Strickland (15-1)
Andrew Craig (9-3) vs. Edgar Garcia (14-4)
Holly Holm vs. Marion Reneau (6-1)
Kevin Casey (8-3, 1NC) vs. Ildemar Alcantara (21-7)