Al Iaquinta steps in to face local lightweight Ryan Couture at UFC 164

Related Content All fighting coverage

Ryan Couture will still make his second appearance in the UFC on Aug. 31 in Milwaukee despite losing his announced opponent Tuesday afternoon.

The local lightweight, and son of former champion Randy Couture, now meets “The Ultimate Fighter Live” veteran Al Iaquinta on the preliminary card of UFC 164. A UFC official confirmed the new pairing.

Quinn Mulhern, originally slated to meet Couture, announced he was hurt on twitter earlier in the day and posted a picture of a fractured hand. Four hours later, Iaquinta stepped up to fill the vacancy.

Iaquinta (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) hasn’t fought since getting upset by Michael Chiesa in the finals of their “TUF” season more than a year ago. Couture (6-2 MMA, 0-1 UFC) was knocked out by Ross Pearson in his UFC debut in April.

UFC 164 is headlined by a lightweight title fight between Benson Henderson (19-2 MMA, 7-0 UFC) and Anthony Pettis (16-2 MMA, 3-1 UFC).

Case Keefer can be reached at 948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.