Matt Riddle Steps In Against Besam Yousef At UFC 154

Welterweight Matt Riddle (6-3, 1 NC) will step in for an injured Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson (6-1) and take on Besam Yousef (6-1) at next month's UFC 154. 

UFC officials announced the new bout on Monday.

Thompson and Yousef were originally scheduled to square off on the preliminary portion of UFC 154, however, "Wonderboy" was recently forced from the bout due to a knee injury. Riddle steps in a week following a 90-day suspension after testing positive for marijuana at July's UFC 149. 

UFC 154 takes place on November 17 at Montreal's Bell Centre and is headlined by a welterweight title clash between reigning and returning champ Georges St-Pierre and interim titleholder Carlos Condit. In the co-main event, division standouts Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann meet at 170-pounds in a number-one contender bout. 

Riddle recently scored a third-round submission victory over Chris Clements last July, earning himself a "Submission of the Night" bonus, however, the bout was later overturned to a no-contest ruling after the 26-year-old tested positive for marijuana. Prior to the aforementioned match, Riddle notched a split decision over Henry Martinez at UFC 143. 

Yousef, meanwhile, recently picked up the first defeat of his young career in his Octagon debut last April, suffering a submission loss at the hands of Simeon Thoresen. The loss halted a six-fight win streak for the Swede — all but one which came by way of stoppage. 

(Pictured: Matt Riddle)