Mark Bocek vs. Matt Wiman Slated for UFC 145 in Montreal

Matt Wiman UFC

Matt Wiman

Lightweights verbally agree to bout

The UFC’s return to Montreal in March has another Canadian added to the card.

Toronto native Mark Bocek will face Matt Wiman in a lightweight bout March 24 at UFC 145 in Montreal. The UFC recently confirmed the fight, saying verbal agreements are in place.

Bocek (10-4, 6-4 UFC) is looking for his first winning streak since 2009. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt got back in the win column last month in front of his home crowd in Toronto with a unanimous decision victory over Nik Lentz at UFC 140. At UFC 129, also in his Toronto home, Bocek lost a unanimous decision to Ben Henderson. Four of Bocek’s last five wins have come by submission, including a Submission of the Night win over Dustin Hazelett the last time the UFC visited the Bell Centre for UFC 124.

Wiman (14-6, 7-4 UFC) is coming off a Fight of the Night performance in his unanimous decision rematch win over Mac Danzig at UFC on Versus 6 in October. That got the “Handsome” one back on the positive side of the win-loss ledger after a loss at UFC 132 to Dennis Siver. Wiman has won four of his last five fights and also boasts four Fight of the Night bonuses in his last eight bouts.

Though not yet official, UFC 145 will take place at the Bell Centre in Montreal. It will be the UFC’s fifth trip to the venue, which boasts the promotion’s top three non-stadium attendance marks. UFC 83, UFC 97 and UFC 124 each did in excess of 21,000 fans – with UFC 124, in December 2010, topping out at 23,152.

There currently are five confirmed fights for UFC 145. Along with Bocek-Wiman, the pay-per-view will feature a heavyweight bout between Brendan Schaub and Ben Rothwell; a featherweight contest between Mark Hominick and Eddie Yagin; a heavyweight fight pitting Travis Browne against Strikeforce crossover Chad Griggs; and a welterweight fight between Rory MacDonald and Che Mills.