After previously contesting two events in the Metro Detroit area (and the first since UFC 123 in November 2010), the event will be the first for the promotion at the newly-built venue.
A UFC Featherweight Championship bout between current champion Max Holloway and former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar was expected to serve as the main event. However, Edgar pulled out of the fight on November 8 with an injury. Holloway is expected to remain on the card against a replacement.
A flyweight bout between 2008 Olympic gold medalist in freestyle wrestling and former UFC Flyweight Championship challenger Henry Cejudo and Sergio Pettis, initially scheduled for UFC 211 before Cejudo pulled out with a hand injury, was rescheduled for this event.[5] Subsequently, Cejudo's availability for the event was briefly in doubt as he suffered minor burn injuries to his right foot on the evening of October 9 as he was evacuating his hotel as a result of the Tubbs Fire near Santa Rosa, California. The following day, his management team confirmed that the fight with Pettis was still on for the event.
Al Iaquinta was scheduled to face Paul Felder at the event. However, Iaquinta pulled out of the fight on October 31 citing an injury. Felder is expected to remain on the card against Charles Oliveira.
