A UFC Featherweight Championship trilogy bout between current champion Alexander Volkanovski and former champion Max Holloway was originally expected to headline the event.[3] The pairing first met at UFC 245, where Volkanovski defeated Holloway via unanimous decision to capture the title.[4] Their second meeting took place at UFC 251, with Volkanovski successfully defending the title via split decision (a result which was met with controversy by fans, fellow fighters, and media outlets alike).[5][6] However, two days after the trilogy announcement, Holloway withdrew due to an aggravated previous injury.[7] He was replaced by former title challenger Chan Sung Jung and the bout was moved to UFC 273 on April 9.[8]
A UFC Bantamweight Championship title unification rematch between current champion Aljamain Sterling and former champion/current interim title holder Petr Yan was expected to take place at this event.[3] The pairing previously met at UFC 259, with Sterling winning the title by disqualification (intentional illegal knee strike) in the fourth round, becoming the first fighter to win a UFC title by disqualification.[9] The rematch was initially expected to take place at UFC 267, however Sterling withdrew from the contest due to lingering neck issues and an interim title bout between Yan and Cory Sandhagen was set.[10] The UFC then opted to move the pairing from this event to UFC 273.[11]
A heavyweight bout between Greg Hardy and Serghei Spivac was originally scheduled for UFC 270, but it was moved to this event after Hardy suffered a finger injury.[13]
A lightweight bout between Devonte Smith and Erick Gonzalez was scheduled for the event.[17] However, Gonzalez was forced to withdraw from the event due to a foot injury.[18] He was replaced by Ľudovít Klein.[19]
^The ESPN broadcast only aired the Rodriguez vs Yan and Turner vs Mullarkey bouts due to a college basketball game that aired on ESPN during the Moroz vs Agapova and Negumereanu vs Nzechukwu bouts.
^Nzechukwu was deducted 1 point in Round 3 due to repeated eye pokes.