The event was the second that the promotion had contested in the American capital, following
UFC Live: Cruz vs. Johnson in October 2011. A heavyweight bout between former
2010 K-1 World Grand Prix Champion,
Strikeforce Heavyweight Champion and
UFC Heavyweight Championship challenger
Alistair Overeem and
Walt Harris was expected to serve as the event headliner. However on November 1, Harris withdrew from the event due to the ongoing search for his missing stepdaughter, whose remains were found a month after her disappearance. He was replaced by
Jairzinho Rozenstruik. A women's strawweight bout between former
UFC Women's Strawweight Championship challenger
Cláudia Gadelha and
Cynthia Calvillo was scheduled for the event. However on October 22, it was announced that Gadelha was forced to withdraw from the bout due to a broken finger and a torn ligament. She was replaced by
Marina Rodriguez. A women's strawweight bout between
Cortney Casey and former
Invicta FC Strawweight Champion Virna Jandiroba was scheduled for the event. However, Casey pulled out on October 31 due to undisclosed reasons. She was replaced by another former Invicta FC Strawweight Champion
Lívia Renata Souza. In turn, Souza pulled out of the fight a few weeks later and was replaced by promotional newcomer
Mallory Martin. A middleweight bout between
Alonzo Menifield and
Trevor Smith was scheduled for the event. However on November 10, it was reported that Menifield pulled out of the event for an undisclosed reason and was replaced by
Makhmud Muradov.
Mickey Gall was expected to face former
WEC Welterweight Champion and interim
UFC Welterweight Champion Carlos Condit at the event. However, Condit pulled out on November 13 due to a detached retina and the bout was subsequently canceled. A featherweight bout between
Chris Fishgold and
Billy Quarantillo was scheduled for the event. However, Fishgold withdrew from the bout on November 27 for an undisclosed reason. He was replaced by Jacob Kilburn. At the weigh-ins,
Cynthia Calvillo and Matt Sayles missed the required weight for their respective fights. Calvillo weighed in at 120.5 pounds, 4.5 pounds over the strawweight non-title fight limit of 116 pounds. Sayles weighed in at 148.5 pounds, 2.5 pounds over the featherweight non-title fight limit of 146 pounds. Both bouts were held at a catchweight. Calvillo and Sayles were fined 30% and 20% of their purses, which went to their opponents Rodriguez and Mitchell. ==Results==