John Alessio will finally get another run in the UFC.
The Canadian fighter, who has been campaigning for months for another shot in the UFC, has agreed to replace the injured Matt Wiman against fellow Canadian Mark Bocek at UFC 145, according to sources close to the fight. (Update: Bocek confirmed the news via Twitter.)
Following his most recent win over Ryan Healy earlier this month, Alessio expressed, one more time, on The MMA Hour his desire to return to the big show.
“I have zero quit,” Alessio said. “I’m a fighter for life. I’ve been doing this going since 1998. You’re not going to see me quit anytime soon. I need to get back to the UFC, to be able to lay my head down at night at the end of my career.
“I won’t be denied.”
The 14-year MMA veteran is 0-3 in the UFC, losing to Pat Miletich at UFC 26, Diego Sanchez at UFC 60 and Thiago Alves at Ortiz vs. Shamrock III in 2006.
Alessio last fought on March 16, and with UFC 145 just 18 days away, he won’t have plenty of time to prepare for Bocek. The 10-4 Bocek got back on the winning track at UFC 140, defeating Nik Lentz via decision.
UFC 145, headlined by Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans for the UFC light heavyweight title, airs live on pay-per-view on April 21 from Atlanta’s Phillips Arena. The Bocek-Alessio tilt is expected to air on the main card.