Rick Glenn Replaces Injured Gilbert Melendez, Meets Arnold Allen at ‘TUF 28’ Finale

Former Strikeforce champion and UFC title challenger Gilbert Melendez will have to wait to make his Octagon return.

An injury has forced Melendez to withdraw from “The Ultimate Fighter 28” finale. As a result, Rick Glenn will step in for “El Nino” and face Arnold Allen in a featherweight tilt at the Pearl at the Palms Casino in Las Vegas on Nov. 30. The promotion announced the change on Monday.

The “TUF 28” finale is headlined by a welterweight showdown pitting Rafael dos Anjos against Kamaru Usman. The card will likely be televised on Fox Sports 1 following early prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

Melendez, 36, hasn’t competed since September 2017, when he suffered a leg injury en route to dropping a unanimous verdict against Jeremy Stephens at UFC 215. The Skrap Pack representative is on a four-bout skid dating back to 2014.

Glenn has won three of his last four Octagon appearances, including a split verdict against Dennis Bermudez at UFC Fight Night 133 on July 14. Arnold, meanwhile, has won six bouts in a row, four of those within the Las Vegas-based organization.