The bantamweight talent, who called for a fight with John Lineker at the UFC on FOX 25 event in Long Island, New York, on July 22, will compete at the event, but against Marlon Vera. MMA Fighting confirmed the news following a report by Newsday.
Kelleher (17-7) left an outstanding first impression in the Octagon, submitting jiu-jitsu black belt Iuri Alcantara in the first round at UFC 212, improving to 17-7 in the sport with his seventh straight victory.
Vera (11-3-1), who joined the UFC in 2014 after competing in the promotion’s first Latin American season of The Ultimate Fighter, knocked out Brad Pickett in his retirement fight last March in London.