Rob Broughton was scheduled to face Ednaldo Oliveira, but pulled out of the bout.[4] Recently resigned heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga replaced Broughton in the bout.[6]
Paulo Thiago was scheduled to face Mike Pyle, but pulled out of the bout due to an injury.[4] Recently resigned welterweight Ricardo Funch replaced Thiago in the bout.[7]
Stanislav Nedkov was scheduled to take on Fabio Maldonado at this event, but visa problems forced Nedkov to withdraw from the bout.[4] Newcomer Caio Magalhaes stepped in as a replacement for Nedkov in late December.[8] However, Maldonado was injured less than a week before his fight with Magalhaes and the bout was scratched from the card.[9]
At the UFC 142 weigh ins, Anthony Johnson failed to make the middleweight limit. Johnson came in 11 pounds over the 186 lb weight allowance, was fined 20 percent of his earnings and the bout was contested at a catchweight of 197 lb.[10] However, Belfort requested that Johnson not weigh more than 205 lb the day of the fight. The UFC mandated that if Johnson could not make the 205 lb limit, the bout would be cancelled. Johnson officially weighed in at 204.2 lb on fight day, and the bout took place as scheduled.[11]