Joe Doerksen, left, lost to fellow Canadian Jason MacDonald at UFC 83 in Montreal.

BY JOE FERRARO
sportsnet.ca

Joe (El Dirte) Doerksen is returning to the UFC -- and to Montreal.

The Winnipeg middleweight is stepping up on short notice to face Tom Lawlor on May 8 at UFC 113 at the Bell Centre, sources have confirmed to sportsnet.ca.

Doerksen fell to fellow Canadian Jason (The Athlete) MacDonald by TKO at UFC 83 in Montreal, the first ever UFC event in Canada back in April 2008.

Since being released following the loss, Doerkson (44-12) has gone undefeated, winning five straight fights. The most recent was a split decision victory over Chad Herrick at a King of the Cage event last week in Chicago.

Doerksen replaces Tim Credeur, who was forced to pull out of the bout with Lawlor because of an undisclosed injury.