A UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout for the vacant title between former champion Glover Teixeira and Jamahal Hill headlined the event.[5] Teixeira was originally expected to compete at UFC 282 as a challenger in a rematch against then-champion Jiří Procházka, but Procházka pulled out and vacated the title after a serious shoulder injury. Teixeira subsequently refused a replacement fight against Magomed Ankalaev, which prompted the UFC to change the original co-main event between former champion Jan Błachowicz and Ankalaev into the new title fight for the vacant belt.[6] After that contest ended in a split draw, the organization decided to book Teixeira and Hill, who was scheduled to headline an event against former title challenger Anthony Smith in early March.[7][8] Smith was expected to serve as an alternate for the title bout.[9] However, he weighed in at 206.5 pounds on his second attempt and was unable to compete if necessary.[10]
This was the UFC's first-ever tetralogy fight. Figueiredo(left) faced Moreno(right) for the fourth straight time, while the latter fought Kai Kara-France in his latest bout after the original trilogy.[11]
A UFC Flyweight Championship unification tetralogy bout between current two-time champion Deiveson Figueiredo and former champion/current interim title holder Brandon Moreno took place at the event.[12] The pairing first met at UFC 256 on December 12, 2020, which ended in a majority draw (Figueiredo retained the title).[13] Their second meeting took place at UFC 263 on June 12, 2021, where Moreno captured the title by submission in the third round.[14] Their third meeting took place at UFC 270 on January 22, 2022, where Figueiredo regained the title by unanimous decision.[15]Alexandre Pantoja served as backup and potential replacement for this fight.[16]
A women's featherweight bout between Josiane Nunes and Zarah Fairn took place at the event.[17] They were originally scheduled to meet at UFC on ESPN: Whittaker vs. Gastelum in April 2021, but on the day of the weigh-ins Fairn weighed in at 147 pounds, eight pounds over the pre-established limit of 139 pounds (the bout was originally set for the women's bantamweight division, but was shifted to a catchweight prior to the start of the weigh-ins). The bout was cancelled due to the weight discrepancy, as Nunes weighed in at 136 pounds.[18]
A heavyweight bout between Shamil Abdurakhimov and Jailton Almeida took place at the event.[19] They were previously scheduled to meet at UFC 279 and UFC 280 but Abdurakhimov withdrew both times due to visa issues and for undisclosed reasons respectively.[20][21]
Guram Kutateladze was expected to face Thiago Moisés in a lightweight bout at this event.[22] However, Kutateladze pulled out in early January for undisclosed reasons.[23] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Melquizael Costa.[24]
