Keri Melendez pulls out of Bellator 180 with injury

Strawweight Keri Melendez has pulled out of her meeting with Sadee Monserrate Williams at Bellator 180 at Madison Square Garden due to an undisclosed injury, the fighter confirmed Monday on Twitter following a report from MMA Fighting's Marc Raimondi.

She is set to undergo surgery on Wednesday.

Boxer Heather Hardy's MMA debut opposite Alice Yauger has been moved up from the card's online prelims as a result.

Melendez - wife of former Strikeforce champion and current UFC lightweight Gilbert Melendez - debuted in November at Bellator 165, where she trounced Sheila Padilla by 47-second KO.

Bellator 180 will be headlined by a light heavyweight title bout between reigning champion Phil Davis and UFC alum Ryan Bader. The bill will act as a preliminary show for Bellator NYC, just the second pay-per-view in promotional history. Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva will close out the star-studded show in a light heavyweight grudge match, while Fedor Emelianenko and Matt Mitrione will meet in the heavyweight co-main event.