Raphael Assunção was expected to faceRaoni Barcelos in a bantamweight bout at the event.[9] However, Assunção pulled out of the fight in early February aftertesting positive for COVID-19.[10][11] He was replaced by promotional newcomer Marcelo Rojo and the bout was expected to take place at a catchweight of 140 pounds.[12] Subsequently, Barcelos was removed from the fight on February 22 after also testing positive.[13] Promotion officials decided to book Rojo as a replacement againstCharles Jourdain atUFC Fight Night: Edwards vs. Muhammad.[14]
A women's bantamweight bout betweenMarion Reneau andThe Ultimate Fighter: Heavy Hitters women's featherweight winnerMacy Chiasson was originally scheduled forUFC Fight Night: Overeem vs. Volkov.[17] However, during the week leading up to the fight, Reneau was pulled from the card after testing positive for COVID-19. The bout was expected to remain intact and was rescheduled for this event.[18] They were once again rescheduled on February 20, due to Chiasson suffering an injury, with the pairing now expected to take place atUFC on ESPN: Brunson vs. Holland.[19]
Hannah Cifers was expected to faceEmily Whitmire in a women's strawweight bout at this event.[20] However, Cifers pulled out due to undisclosed reasons and was replaced bySam Hughes.[21] In turn, Whitmire was removed from the bout on February 14 due to undisclosed reasons and the pairing was scrapped.[22]
A bantamweight rematch featuringPedro Munhoz andJimmie Rivera took place at this event.[23] They previously met atUFC Fight Night: Belfort vs. Henderson 3 in November 2015, when Rivera won via split decision.[24] They were originally booked for a planned January 30 date, but the event never materialized.[25] The pairing was then rescheduled forUFC on ESPN: Chiesa vs. Magny, before being moved once more, as they were booked toUFC 258 due to undisclosed reasons.[26] The bout was then delayed again due to a positive COVID-19 test for someone within the two camps during the week leading up to that event.[27]
Randy Brown was expected to faceAlex Oliveira in a welterweight bout at the event.[28] However, Brown pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event due to undisclosed reasons.[29] Oliveira was then expected to face promotional newcomerRamazan Kuramagomedov.[30] However, the bout was scrapped the day before the event when Kuramagomedov was removed due to illness.[31]
A light heavyweight bout betweenAlonzo Menifield andWilliam Knight was scheduled for the preliminary portion of the card.[32] However, the bout was postponed during the week leading up to the event after Menifield tested positive for COVID-19. The pairing is expected to be left intact and rescheduled for a future event.[33]
At the weigh-ins,Maxim Grishin weighed in at 210.5 pounds, four and a half pounds over the light heavyweight non-title fight limit. His bout proceeded at a catchweight and he was fined 30% of his individual purse, which went to his opponentDustin Jacoby.[34]
