The event was headlined by a UFC Heavyweight Championship unification bout between then champion Cain Velasquez and then interim champion Fabrício Werdum.
The bout was originally expected to take place at UFC 180. However, Velasquez pulled out of the bout due to a knee injury and the event was instead headlined by an interim title bout between Werdum and Mark Hunt.
A lightweight bout between Francisco Trevino and Johnny Case was originally expected to take place at UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs. Siver.[6] However, on December 23, it was announced that Trevino had to pull out of the bout due to an injury. The fight was later rescheduled for this event.
