Alex White replaces Jim Alers at UFC Fight Night 45 in Atlantic City

Alex White (10-0 MMA, 1-0 UFC) has replaced injured Jim Alers (13-1 MMA, 1-0 UFC) and now fights Lucas Martins (14-1 MMA, 2-1 UFC) next month at UFC Fight Night 45.

White’s management team recently announced the change, and Alers confirmed his withdrawal via Twitter:

I will no longer be fighting July 16th. I will be back in a flash stronger and faster than ever. Love you guys—
Jim Alers (@fightJim) June 25, 2014

UFC officials haven’t made a formal announcement.

UFC Fight Night 45 takes place July 16 at Revel Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, N.J. The bulk of the card is expected to air on FOX Sports 1 following select prelims on UFC Fight Pass.

White vs. Martins is likely to be part of the prelims.

White recently made his UFC debut and scored an 88-second knockout victory over Estevan Payan to earn a “Performance of the Night” bonus. The 25-year-old Missourian is now 10-0 with nine stoppages, five of which have come in the first round.

Martins has bounced around weight divisions ranging from 135 to 155 pounds in recent years. He twice fought at lightweight in the UFC and went 1-1, losing to Edson Barboza before knocking out Jeremy Larsen. He then dropped 20 contracted pounds to take on Junior Hernandez at this past fall’s UFC Fight Night 28, where the 25-year-old Brazilian won via first-round submission.

The latest UFC Fight Night 45 card includes:

• Donald Cerrone vs. Jim Miller
• Edson Barboza vs. Evan Dunham
• Pat Healy vs. Gleison Tibau
• Leonardo Mafra vs. Rick Story
• John Lineker vs. Alptekin Ozkilic
• Joe Proctor vs. Justin Salas
• Jessamyn Duke vs. Leslie Smith
• Aljamain Sterling vs. Hugo Viana
• Yosdenis Cedeno vs. Leo Kuntz
• Lucas Martins vs. Alex White
• Claudia Gadelha vs. Tina Lahdemaki

For more on UFC Fight Night 45, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.

(Pictured: Alex White)