A UFC Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Stipe Miocic and Francis Ngannou is expected to serve as the event headliner.

The event is also expected to feature a UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout between current champion Daniel Cormier and Volkan Oezdemir.

A welterweight bout between The Ultimate Fighter: American Top Team vs. Blackzilians 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 UFC Fight Night: Stephens vs. Choi a day later, which takes place one week 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 newcomer Dan Ige at the event. However on December 22, Rosa pulled out due to a neck injury. Ige is expected to remain on the card and face fellow newcomer Julio Arce.