The event was the second that the organisation hosted in Northern Ireland, with the first being UFC 72 in June 2007.[2]
A welterweight bout between ranked contenders Dong Hyun Kim and Gunnar Nelson was expected to serve as the headlined of the event.[2][3] However, on 21 October, it was announced that Nelson pulled out due to an injury and the fight was cancelled. Kim was rescheduled to compete at UFC 207.[4] In turn, a middleweight rematch between former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight ChampionGegard Mousasi and Uriah Hall was announced as the new headliner.[5] The pairing met previously in September 2015 at UFC Fight Night: Barnett vs. Nelson with Hall taking the victory via second round highlight reel TKO in what was considered a huge upset.[6]
A lightweight bout between Ross Pearson and James Krause was originally booked for The Ultimate Fighter: Team Joanna vs. Team Cláudia Finale. However, Krause pulled out due to undisclosed reasons.[7] The fight was later rescheduled for this event and was expected to serve as the co-main event.[8] Subsequently, on 26 October, Krause pulled out of the fight citing a torn hamstring.[9] He was then replaced by Stevie Ray.[10]
At the weigh-ins, Zak Cummings came in at 172.8 lb, almost two pounds over the welterweight limit of 171 lb. As a result, Cummings was fined 20% of his purse, which went to his opponent Alexander Yakovlev and the bout proceeded as scheduled at a catchweight.[12]
A flyweight bout between Ian McCall and Neil Seery was scheduled for the event. However, as Seery was weighing in for the event, it was announced that McCall had to pull out of the fight after becoming ill due to the effects of his weight cut and the bout was scrapped.[13][12]
