After holding four previous events in Germany (Cologne, Oberhausen and Berlin twice), the event was the first that the organization has hosted in Hamburg.[2]
Promotional newcomer Emil Weber Meek was expected to face fellow newcomer Jessin Ayari at the event. However, Meek was removed from the card on July 20 due to "compliance" issues, related to the UFC’s Anti-Doping Policy.[5] One week later, he was replaced by another newcomer Jim Wallhead.[6]
A long rumored fight between Henry Briones and Brad Pickett was expected to take place on the card. However, Briones was replaced in early August for undisclosed reasons by Iuri Alcântara.[8] Subsequently, that pairing was rescheduled to take place a month later at UFC 204.[9]
Aisling Daly was expected to face former Invicta FC Atomweight ChampionMichelle Waterson at the event. However, Daly was pulled from the fight on August 9 due to injury. Promotion officials reportedly searched to replace Daly in an attempt to keep Waterson on the card.[10] In turn, Waterson was removed from the card after injuring her finger.[11]
A featherweight bout between promotional newcomers Martin Buschkamp and Alex Enlund was scrapped from the card during the week leading up to the event due to Enlund being injured.[13]