Saffiedine Out, Lawler Steps In Against Ellenberger

By Evan Stoumbelis

Tarac Saffiedine has been forced off April’s UFC 172 card, and has withdrawn from his bout against Jake Ellenberger. Stepping in is none other than “Ruthless” Robbie Lawler, the bout has been moved to May’s UFC 173 card.

Lawler found himself on the wrong end of a controversial decision against Johny Hendricks earlier this month for the vacant welterweight strap. He is looking to pick up an impressive win and get another shot at Johny Hendrick’s welterweight title.

The card will be headlined by Renan Barao, who will be defending his bantamweight strap against T.J. Dillashaw.

Ellenberger hasn’t seen the Octagon since July when he lost to welterweight contender Rory MacDonald. Prior to that Ellenberger was riding a 2 fight win streak over Jay Hieron and Nate Mardquart.

The UFC 173 card is now as follows:

Champ Renan Barao vs. T.J. Dillashaw – for UFC bantamweight title
Junior dos Santos vs. Stipe Miocic
Jake Ellenberger vs. Robbie Lawler
Takeya Mizugaki vs. Francisco Rivera
Tony Ferguson vs. Katsunori Kikuno
James Krause vs. Jamie Varner
Chris Holdsworth vs. Kyung Ho Kang
Mitch Clarke vs. Al Iaquinta
Michael Chiesa vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Anthony Njokuani vs. Vinc Pichel
Yves Edwards vs. Piotr Hallmann
Doo Ho Choi vs. Sam Sicilia
Jingliang Li vs. Danny Mitchell