A UFC Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou served as the event headliner. The event also featured a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Daniel Cormier and Volkan Oezdemir. A welterweight bout between welterweight winner Kamaru Usman and Emil Weber Meek was originally scheduled for UFC 219. However, due to an alleged visa issue for Meek which affected his travel schedule, the pairing was delayed and then rescheduled for this event. However, it was shifted to a day later, which took place six days before this event. A welterweight bout between Abdul Razak Alhassan and Sabah Homasi was originally scheduled for UFC 219, but later shifted to this event. The pairing met previously at UFC 218, when Alhassan won via a controversial TKO. Charles Rosa was expected to face promotional newcomerDan Ige at the event. However, on December 22, Rosa pulled out due to a neck injury. Ige remained on the card and faced fellow newcomer Julio Arce. Arnold Allen was expected to face lightweight winner Enrique Barzola at the event. However, Allen was pulled from the fight on January 11 due to alleged visa issues which restricted his ability to travel. He was replaced by promotional newcomer Matt Bessette. Jamie Moyle was expected to face Maryna Moroz at the event. However, Moyle pulled out of the fight during the week leading up to the event citing an undisclosed injury. In turn, promotion officials indicated that Moroz would be rescheduled for a future event.
Results
Bonus awards
The following fighters were awarded $50,000 bonuses:
Performance of the Night: Daniel Cormier and Abdul Razak Alhassan
Reported payout
The following is the reported payout to the fighters as reported to the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. It does not include sponsor money and also does not include the UFC's traditional "fight night" bonuses. The total disclosed payout for the event was $2,551,000.
Stipe Miocic: $600,000 def. Francis Ngannou: $500,000
Daniel Cormier: $500,000 def. Volkan Oezdemir: $350,000
Calvin Kattar: $28,000 def. Shane Burgos: $22,000
Gian Villante: $100,000 def. Francimar Barroso: $27,000