Jim Alers vs Lucas Martins Set for UFC Fight Night 45

Jim Alers vs Lucas Martins Set for UFC Fight Night 45
by Chris Houten - @mrhouts

Former Cage Warriors Featherweight champion Jim Alers will make his along awaited return Stated side to face Lucas Martins at UFC Fight Night 45 in New Jersey.

UFC Fight Night 45 takes place July 16 at Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey and is headlined by top 10 ranked lightweight Jim Miller and Donald Cerrone. The main card air live in the UK on BT Sports following prelims on UFC Fight Pass. It is not know yet if Alers vs Martins will feature on the main card or the fightpass prelims.

Fighting out of Orlando, Florida, Jim Alers (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) is some what of a stranger when it comes to fighting in The States having fought outside of his home country in his last 6 fights. A brown belt in BJJ, the former kindergarden teach burst on the the international scene under the Cage Warriors banner where he put together a 7 fight win streak which saw the 27 year old earn the promotions featherweight title - vacated by Conor McGregor, and defend it on two occasions.

Following and impressive stoppage win over Graham Turner at Cage Warriors 63, Alers joined the UFC where Alers made his octagon debut, coming away with a split decision over fellow newcomer Alan Omer at UFC Fight Night 39, in Abu Dhabi.

Fighting for the 4th time for the UFC, Lucas Martins makes his featherweight debut against Alers having previously fought at both Lightweight and Bantamweight for the promotion.

A product of Chute Box in Brazil, Martins (14-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) made his UFC debut against fellow Brazilian Edson Barboza who he lost to by first round TKO, marking the first lost for Martins career. Martins bounced back from the loss to Barboza with a TKO victory over Jeremy Larson before dropping to bantamweight to defeat Ramiro Hernandez by rear naked choke.

A lethal finisher, Martins has taken all but one of his career victories inside the distance, with 9 victories coming by TKO and 4 by submission.

Stay tuned to kingdommma.co.uk for all the latest on UFC Fight Night 45