The promotion was targeting a middleweight bout between former UFC Welterweight Championship challenger Darren Till and Jack Hermansson to serve as the event headliner.[3] However, it was revealed on November 6 that Till was forced to withdraw from the planned bout due to an undisclosed injury. He was replaced by Kevin Holland.[4] In turn, Holland was removed from the contest on November 28 after testing positive for COVID-19.[5]Marvin Vettori, who was expected to face former Strikeforce Middleweight ChampionRonaldo Souza a week later at UFC 256, served as his replacement.[6] The UFC also opted to reschedule Holland as Vettori's replacement at UFC 256.[7]
John Allan and Roman Dolidze were originally scheduled to meet at UFC 255 in a light heavyweight bout.[8] They were eventually rescheduled for this event.[9]
A bantamweight bout between Cody Stamann and Merab Dvalishvili was expected to take place at this event.[10] However, it was announced on October 22 that Stamann pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.[11] He was replaced by Raoni Barcelos.[12] The new booking fell through on November 19, as it was revealed that Barcelos was removed from the contest due to a medical suspension related to his latest bout at UFC on ESPN: Santos vs. Teixeira.[13]
Also scheduled for UFC Fight Night: Felder vs. dos Anjos, a bantamweight bout between Louis Smolka and José Alberto Quiñónez was cancelled after Smolka pulled out of their fight as a result of ill-effects from his weight cut on the day of the event.[16] They were then rescheduled for this event.[17]
Maryna Moroz was expected to face Taila Santos in a women's flyweight bout at this event.[18] However, it was announced on November 18 that Moroz had to pull out and Montana De La Rosa would be her replacement.[19] Just hours before the event, the UFC decided to remove the fight after one of De La Rosa's cornermen tested positive for COVID-19.[20] Santos was then rescheduled to face Gillian Robertson two weeks later at UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal.[21]
At the weigh-ins, former interim UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger Ovince Saint Preux weighed in at 207.5 pounds, one and a half pounds over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 20% of his individual purse, which went to his opponent Jamahal Hill.[24]
Along with the cancellation of the De La Rosa/Santos bout, two other fights were also removed from the event – a featherweight bout between Nate Landwehr and Movsar Evloev, as well as a flyweight bout between Cody Durden and Jimmy Flick.[25] The former was due to Evloev testing positive for COVID-19.[26] The latter was due to a non-COVID related medical issue with Durden, before being rescheduled for UFC Fight Night: Thompson vs. Neal.[27][28]
