Just three weeks after scoring a TKO win over Houston Alexander, Joey Beltran will step in to face Rolles Gracie this Saturday at UFC 109 in Las Vegas.
Beltran announced the signing Monday on his official website, and the UFC confirmed Tuesday the updated matchup.
"I just signed a four-fight deal with the UFC!" Beltran wrote. "This has been what I have been working towards for the last five years of my life, so it feels good. I can't say who I'll be fighting but I'll say I will be in Vegas very soon!"
It's not certain why Gracie's scheduled opponent Mostapha Al Turk has withdrawn from the fight, but it could be due to VISA issues, first reported over the weekend as a possibility by MMA Weekly.
Beltran (10-3) has won six of his last seven and has competed for Strikeforce, Total Combat, Bellator, King of the Cage and most recently, for 5150 Combat League.
Gracie (3-0), who trains with the Renzo Gracie Jiu Jitsu-Academy and Greg Jackson camps, will be the first Gracie inside the Octagon since Royce's return to the UFC for a one-shot against Matt Hughes at UFC 60 in May 2006.
Jon Madsen was rumored to be a replacement and MMA Fighting can confirm that although Madsen was offered the fight, the UFC went with Beltran instead.