A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship rematch between then current champion Jiří Procházka (also former Rizin Light Heavyweight Champion) and former champion Glover Teixeira was originally expected to headline the event.[3] The pair previously met at UFC 275 in June, with Procházka winning the back and forth fight (and championship) by submission in the fifth round.[4] However, on November 23, Procházka pulled out due to a shoulder injury that would require surgery and at least six months of rehabilitation. He decided to vacate the title, and Teixeira subsequently refused a replacement fight against Magomed Ankalaev. Therefore, the co-main event bout between former champion Jan Błachowicz (also former KSW Light Heavyweight Champion) and Ankalaev was promoted to the main event status and arranged for the vacant championship.[5][6][7]
Promotional newcomer Bo Nickal was expected to face Jamie Pickett in a middleweight bout.[9] However, it was announced in late October that Nickal withdrew due to injury and the bout was scrapped.[10]
A light heavyweight bout between former title challenger Alexander Gustafsson and former interim title contender Ovince Saint Preux was expected to take place at the event.[11] However, Gustafsson withdrew due to an undisclosed reason and was replaced by 2018 PFL heavyweight tournament winnerPhilipe Lins.[12] In turn, Lins withdrew from the bout due to an undisclosed reason and was replaced by Antonio Trocoli.[13] However, Trocoli withdrew due to visa issues.[14] As a result, Saint Preux was pulled from the card as well due to the promotion being unable to find another replacement.[15]
A bantamweight bout between Cameron Saaiman and Ronnie Lawrence was expected to take place at the event.[16] However, Lawrence withdrew for unknown reasons the week before the event and was replaced by promotional newcomer Steven Koslow.[17]
A welterweight bout between former UFC Welterweight ChampionRobbie Lawler and Santiago Ponzinibbio was expected to take place at the event.[18] The pairing was previously scheduled to meet at UFC 245 in 2019 but Ponzinibbio withdrew due to a staph infection.[19] However, the week of the event, the bout fell through again as Lawler was forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury.[20] He was replaced by Alex Morono at a catchweight of 180 pounds.[21]
A flyweight bout between Daniel da Silva and Vinicius Salvador was expected to take place at the event.[22] However, after the official weigh-ins, in which da Silva weighed in at 129 pounds, three pounds over the flyweight non-title fight limit, it was announced he had been pulled from the card due to an undisclosed medical issue and the bout was scrapped.[23]
The following fighters received $50,000 bonuses.[26]
Fight of the Night: Dricus du Plessis vs. Darren Till
Performance of the Night: Santiago Ponzinibbio, Ilia Topuria, Raúl Rosas Jr., Jairzinho Rozenstruik, Edmen Shahbazyan, Chris Curtis, Billy Quarantillo, T.J. Brown, and Cameron Saaiman
With eleven post-fight bonuses, this was the record for most bonuses given in a single UFC event.[27]
