News has emerged that Matt Wiman will no longer be able to take on Mark Bocek at UFC 145 due to a knee injury.

A replacement has arrived in the form of John Alessio another MMA veteran who will fill the vacant spot and make his return to the UFC.

UFC 145 will take place on April 21 at Atlanta’s Philips Arena which was also the site for UFC 88 where Rashad Evans knocked out former UFC light heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell in 2008. Former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans will challenge the current champion and former training partner Jon Jones in the main event.

Bocek was last seen in action at UFC 140 against Nick Lentz in December 2011. He was able to take Lentz down and dominant him on the ground to win via unanimous decision. Prior to that victory Bocek was defeated by current lightweight champion Benson Henderson at UFC 129 via decision.

Mark has won 6 out of his 10 fights within the UFC and even though he has a good rate of victories, he has had a problem defeating top level competition within the lightweight division. Mark has only lost 4 pro MMA fights in his career so far, the first against former champion Frankie Edgar, the second against Mac Danzig, the third against Jim Miller and lastly the bout against Benson Henderson.

32-year-old MMA veteran John Alessio will now make his return to the UFC, no doubt hoping to make a return with a big victory. The Canadian has won 10 of his last 11 fights with his only loss coming via TKO against Siyar Bahadurzada at United Glory 13 back in March 2011.

Currently riding a three fight winning streak John has nothing to lose, so expect to see a big performance from a man who is no stranger to the big show.