Bryan Barberena replaces Johnny Case at UFC Fight Night 44 in San Antonio
UFC newcomer Bryan Barberena (9-2 MMA, 0-0 UFC) has replaced Johnny Case (13-4 MMA, 0-0 UFC) and will fight lightweight Joe Ellenberger (14-1 MMA, 0-0 UFC) later this month at UFC Fight Night 44.
UFC officials today announced the switch.
According to a post on Case’s Facebook page, he failed an initial eye test and was forced off the card. However, UFC officials assured him it’ll be cleared up and that he’ll be moved to another card.
UFC Fight Night 44 takes place June 28 at AT&T Center in San Antonio. The bulk of the card airs on FOX Sports 1 following a lone prelim on UFC Fight Pass.
Barberena vs. Ellenberger kicks off the main card.
Barberena, the latest UFC signing from The MMA Lab in Arizona, arrives in the UFC with a six-fight winning streak that includes four knockouts and a submission. Most recently, he knocked out Eric Moon (10-12) at a February KOTC show.
He takes on Joe Ellenberger, the twin brother of UFC welterweight contender Jake Ellenberger. The 29-year-old UFC newcomer fights for the first time since December 2012, due in part to a last-minute cancellation of a scheduled UFC debut earlier this year. He’s won back-to-back fights after the first loss of his career, which came against Justin Salas in 2011. His resume includes 12 stoppages in his 14 wins.
The official UFC Fight Night 44 lineup includes:
MAIN CARD (FOX Sports 1, 10 p.m. ET)
Cub Swanson vs. Jeremy Stephens
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Nicholas Musoke
Andrew Craig vs. Cezar Ferreira
Hacran Dias vs. Ricardo Lamas
Clint Hester vs. Antonio Braga Neto
Bryan Barberena vs. Joe Ellenberger
PRELIMINARY CARD (FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET)
Carlos Diego Ferreira vs. Colton Smith
Johnny Bedford vs. Cody Gibson
Andy Enz vs. Marcelo Guimaraes
Ryan Benoit vs. Ray Borg
PRELIMINARY CARD (UFC Fight Pass, 7:30 p.m. ET)
Anthony Hamilton vs. Oleksiy Oliynyk
