A featherweight bout between #3 ranked Ádám Borics and #4 ranked Jay Jay Wilson was scheduled for this event. The bout was to determine the #1 contender who would face champion A. J. McKee.[5] However, at the weigh-ins, Wilson came in at 150.4 pounds, missing weight by 4.4 pounds. As a result, the fight has been scrapped and Borics was paid his show money.[6]
Number 5 ranked Welterweight Logan Storley made a return to his home state against Dante Schiro.[7]
A women's flyweight bout between Alejandra Lara and DeAnna Bennett was scheduled for Bellator 263.[8] The bout was rescheduled for unknown reasons to take place at this event.[9] On August 13, it was announced that the bout was moved once again, this time to Bellator 266.[10]
A lightweight bout between Mike Hamel and Bryce Logan took place on the preliminary portion of the bout.[11]
Two heavyweight prospects, Bailey Schoenfelder and Kevin Childs, were scheduled to compete in the event prelims.[12] However, the bout did not happen after Childs withdrew from the contest. With Childs being scrapped from his bout, a contracted catchweight bout at 225 pounds was set between Bailey Schoenfelder and Kory Moegenburg.
A heavyweight bout between #6 ranked Steve Mowry and Marcelo Golm was scheduled for Bellator 264,[13] however on August 4 it was announced that Steve Mowry was scratched from the bout, with Golm facing Kelvin Tiller at this event.[14] The week of the event, Tiller pulled out of the bout and he was replaced by promotional newcomer Billy Swanson.[15]
A middleweight bout between Jeff Nielsen and Kory Moegenburg was cancelled the week off the event due to COVID-19 protocols.[16]