The event was expected to take place at the
American Airlines Arena in
Miami, Florida. However, the UFC announced on February 23 that the event was moved to the
BB&T Center in
Sunrise, Florida, being the second to be held there, after
UFC on FX: Johnson vs. McCall in June 2012. The promotion was initially targeting a middleweight bout between former interim
UFC Middleweight Championship challenger (as well as
2000 Olympic silver medalist and former world champion in
freestyle wrestling)
Yoel Romero and
Paulo Costa to serve as the event headliner. The pairing was previously scheduled to take place at
UFC 230 and then again at
UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw, but it was scrapped each time due to injuries to both fighters. The two met previously in December 2015 at
UFC 194 with Romero winning via split decision. It was then reported in early April that Romero pulled out of the bout due to
pneumonia. While not officially announced by the promotion, Costa was initially expected to replace Romero. However, Costa indicated that the three week lead time would not be enough for him to adequately prepare, so he declined. Souza ultimately faced
Jack Hermansson in the main event. A light heavyweight bout between former
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship challenger
Glover Teixeira and
Ion Cuțelaba was initially scheduled to take place at
UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw. However, on January 10, Cuțelaba pulled out of the bout due to injury. The pairing was rescheduled for this event. A bantamweight bout between
John Lineker and
Cory Sandhagen was initially scheduled to take place at
UFC Fight Night: Cejudo vs. Dillashaw. However, on January 10, Lineker pulled out of the bout due to a rib injury. The pairing was rescheduled for this event. A strawweight bout between former
Invicta FC Atomweight Champion (also former
UFC Women's Strawweight Championship challenger)
Jessica Penne and
Jodie Esquibel was initially scheduled to take place at
UFC on ESPN: Ngannou vs. Velasquez. However, Penne pulled out of the bout due to a severely sprained ankle while warming up the morning of the event, resulting in the cancellation of the bout. The pairing was rescheduled for this event. Subsequently, on April 18, it was reported that Penne pulled out of the bout and she was replaced by former
Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Angela Hill. A welterweight bout between
Alex Oliveira and
Li Jingliang was scheduled at this event. However, it was reported on March 23 that Li was injured and was forced to pull out of the bout. He was replaced by
Mike Perry. A strawweight bout between former
Invicta FC and
UFC Strawweight Champion Carla Esparza and another former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion
Lívia Renata Souza was scheduled for the event. However, it was reported that Souza pulled out of the bout citing an ankle injury and she was replaced by current Invicta FC Strawweight Champion
Virna Jandiroba. A lightweight bout between
Gilbert Burns and
Eric Wisely was scheduled for the event. However, it was reported on April 18 that Wisely pulled out of the bout, citing injury. He was replaced by newcomer
Mike Davis. ==Results==