Ruediger Steps in for Etim Against Lauzon at UFC 118

Gabe Ruediger will step in for injured Brit Terry Etim against Joe Lauzon at UFC 118 on Aug. 28 at the TD Garden in Boston.

Multiple outlets reported the three-week replacement bout on Thursday. Sherdog.com confirmed the new lightweight matchup with Lauzon’s camp after Etim reportedly broke his ribs during training.

Lauzon, who hails from East Bridgewater, Mass., will look to rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Sam Stout at UFC 108 in January in Las Vegas. The 25-year-old fighter appeared on “The Ultimate Fighter 5” in 2007 and is 5-2 in the Octagon.

Ruediger had a rocky go during his turn on “The Ultimate Fighter 5,” and was excused from the Spike TV series after failing to make weight for a bout against Corey Hill. The 32-year-old California native has strung together six wins since February 2009, including a first-round technical knockout against Lenny Lovato for the vacant Tachi Palace Fights lightweight title in July.